Solution mining design and tracking of salt cavern gas storages

In China, the layered salt rocks are geologically suitable for the construction of salt cavern gas storages, and the leaching salt intervals are characterized by thin single layer, multiple interbed and low salt grade. Due to the geological structure, the solution mining design of salt cavern gas storages in China cannot learn from foreign design experience completely. Based on the design and site practice of solution mining in the past ten years, the principle to select the key parameters of solution mining design in layered salt rocks was put forward for the first time in this paper, and it fills the domestic blank. Based on this principle, the preliminary solution mining design and adjustment plan were prepared to guide the practical solution mining, and its application results are good. In addition, a series of tracking and monitoring techniques were developed during the on-site tracking of solution mining, such as dynamic analysis for solution mining, blanket interface monitoring, leaching progress tracking and sonar survey, so as to avoid and reduce the leaching abnormalities effectively, identify sudden problems timely and ensure the normality and order of solution mining. The research results can provide design basis and technical support for the construction of other salt cavern gas storages.