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Softening model for failure analysis of insoluble interlayers during salt cavern leaching for natural gas storage

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Abstract

Failure analyses of the insoluble interlayers are critical for a salt cavern leaching for natural gas storage. In this study, a series of brine immersion tests was carried out to investigate the softening laws of the mechanical characteristics of an argillaceous anhydrite interlayer. The test results show that brine immersion decreases the mechanical strength of the interlayer. A softening depth model of the interlayer specimens was developed based on the experimental results. This model was used to establish a mathematical model of the softening of an overhanging interlayer in a salt cavern during leaching. The softening model can predict the softening scope and the residual strength of the interlayer in different softening zones at different leaching times. The model was integrated with a numerical simulation to analyze the characteristics of failure of an overhanging interlayer. It was found that the interlayer tends to fail when the brine immersion time reaches a certain value in the simulation. Finally, the influence of environmental and artificial factors on the softening laws of the insoluble interlayer was discussed. It was found that the matrix structure and soluble components of the interlayer are two significant environmental factors and the brine immersion time is the key artificial factor. Therefore, the failure of an interlayer can be controlled by adjusting the brine immersion time during leaching a salt cavern.

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Acknowledgements

The research was supported by the Visit Scholar Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control (2011DA105287—FW201401), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41672292, 51604044, 51574048, and 51404241). The authors would like to acknowledge Prof. J. J. K. Daemen, who is a professor of University of Nevada, USA, for his very useful help in English language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Xilin Shi, Wei Liu, Jie Chen, Deyi Jiang, Fei Wu & Fan Jinyang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Xilin Shi, Wei Liu & Jie Chen

  3. Chongqing Construction Engineering Municipal Traffic Engineering CO., LTD., Chongqing, China

    Junwei Zhang

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  1. Xilin Shi
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  2. Wei Liu
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  3. Jie Chen
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  4. Deyi Jiang
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  5. Fei Wu
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  6. Junwei Zhang
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Correspondence to Wei Liu or Jie Chen.

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Shi, X., Liu, W., Chen, J. et al. Softening model for failure analysis of insoluble interlayers during salt cavern leaching for natural gas storage. Acta Geotech. 13, 801–816 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-018-0666-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-018-0666-1

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