Assessment methods for containment properties of underground crude oil storage caverns and their applications

One of the important scientific issues for the construction of underground storage caverns is the assessment of containment properties of the caverns. It is aimed to develop a system of methods for the assessment of containment properties of the caverns. A conceptual hydrogeological model for the assessment is proposed. The required information on groundwater, rock mass properties and geological conditions and the engineering characteristics of caverns are summarized. The relationship among the three aspects is analyzed. The catalogues, application fields and characteristics of empirical, numerical and experimental methods are analyzed. The principles for the selection of methods are proposed for the assessment. That is, a favorable method is suitable to the construction stage, assessment object and parameter requirements. A procedure of containment property assessment is proposed. The methods and contents for different stages of the assessment are recommended. A case study is performed to show the applicability of the system. The empirical method, discrete fracture network modeling and experimental methods are used to assess the containment properties of the project. This study may provide an important reference for the construction of underground storage caverns with groundwater curtaining system, and a critical benchmark for the study on seepage behaviors of jointed rock mass.