Expansion analyses of strategic petroleum reserve in Bayou Choctaw : revised locations. Page: 3 of 116
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SAND2010-3350
Unlimited Release
Printed November 2010
Expansion Analyses of Strategic Petroleum Reserve
in Bayou Choctaw - Revised Locations
Byoung Yoon Park' and Brian L. Ehgartner2
'Geomechanics Department,
2Geotechnology and Engineering Department
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 5800
Albuquerque, NM 87185-MS0751
Abstract
This report summarizes a series of three-dimensional simulations for the Bayou
Choctaw Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The U.S. Department of Energy plans to leach
two new caverns and convert one of the existing caverns within the Bayou Choctaw
salt dome to expand its petroleum reserve storage capacity. An existing finite element
mesh from previous analyses is modified by changing the locations of two caverns.
The structural integrity of the three expansion caverns and the interaction between all
the caverns in the dome are investigated. The impacts of the expansion on
underground creep closure, surface subsidence, infrastructure, and well integrity are
quantified. Two scenarios were used for the duration and timing of workover
conditions where wellhead pressures are temporarily reduced to atmospheric pressure.
The three expansion caverns are predicted to be structurally stable against tensile
failure for both scenarios. Dilatant failure is not expected within the vicinity of the
expansion caverns. Damage to surface structures is not predicted and there is not a
marked increase in surface strains due to the presence of the three expansion caverns.
The wells into the caverns should not undergo yield. The results show that from a
structural viewpoint, the locations of the two newly proposed expansion caverns are
acceptable, and all three expansion caverns can be safely constructed and operated.3
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Ehgartner, Brian L. & Park, Byoung Yoon. Expansion analyses of strategic petroleum reserve in Bayou Choctaw : revised locations., report, November 1, 2010; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc833583/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.