Substantiation of the arrangement and operation of the Mozyr underground gas storage facility

The relevance and importance of underground gas storages for the energy security of the Republic of Belarus is denoted. The types of underground gas storage facilities in operation on the territory of the republic are indicated. The geological conditions of the Mozyr salt massif in the area of the mine workings are given. The features of the structure of the Mozyr salt dome are considered. Information about the rock salt deposits of the Zalessky layers suitable for creating caverns is given. Mining and geological conditions are described and favorable factors of an underground gas storage creation in rock salt deposits under the conditions of the Mozyr salt dome are denoted. Information about the screening effect of the roof strata is given. Mathematical modeling was carried out and the assessment of the suitability of the existing salt caverns is given. During the conversion of existing and the creation of new caverns, as well as in the process of their operation (injection-storage-selection) long-term sustainability to the effects of pressures emerging has been confirmed. Formulas for determination the maximum gas pressure limit, the permissible maximum and minimum operating pressure as well as the required span of the cavern are given. The test pressure range for determining the tightness of the caverns is indicated. The conditions for choosing the minimum operating pressure in the cavern as well as the safety margin factor in relation to specific conditions are determined. In fact, the suitability and prospects of creating underground gas storage facilities in the salt domes of the Pripyat trough have been confirmed.

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