Prediction and measurement of groundwater flow rate of underground crude oil storage caverns

The magnitude and spatial distribution of groundwater flow rate around cavern periphery are of critical importance to the construction of underground crude oil storage caverns with water curtain system. The groundwater flow rate of a pilot underground storage cavern in China is estimated using empirical equations, finite element modeling and field measurement. The magnitude and spatial distribution of groundwater flow rate are predicted and then measured in this study. The permeability coefficient is obtained using a series of field permeability tests. The prediction is performed using the empirical equations and finite element modeling. The measurement is performed in terms of the forms of groundwater flow at different locations. The geological conditions at the locations of groundwater flow are identified. A critical value for the groundwater flow rate and a method for grout injection are proposed according to the field measurement. The applicability of the numerical modeling and the discrete nature of the spatial distribution of groundwater flow rate of jointed rock mass are discussed by comparing the predicted results with the measured ones. This study may benefit the construction of underground crude oil storage caverns, and provide a case study for groundwater flow through jointed rock mass under complex conditions.