Research and development progress of oil and gas storage construction technology in bedded salt rock formation

The large-scale reserve of oil, gas, and other energy in salt rock formation is a major strategic need to ensure energy security in China. Bedded salt rock in China has typical characteristics: low height of salt layers, fragmentation by interlayers, and high insoluble content. Safe and efficient construction of reservoirs is the key technology for energy storage in salt rock formations. After more than 20 years of research and engineering application, a complete cavity construction technology has been formed, including the simulation technology for solution mining, the cavern leaching simulation software, and the irregular cavity repair methods. Meanwhile, several new theories and technologies for underground energy storage in complex salt rock formations were established, including collapse control of thick interlayers, multi-step cavity construction for horizontal wells, and gas storage technology from sediments. Many of them have been applied and verified in China with good results. Generally, the research results could provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the construction of oil and gas storage in bedded salt rock formations and serve as a reference for the development of new underground energy storage.