Analysis and evaluation aspects on stability of water-sealed underground petroleum storage caverns in rock

Analysis and evaluation on stability of water-sealed underground petroleum storage rock caverns are very important elements during layout of caverns, which decide the focus of design and the behavior of caverns during operating, and provide advice for optimal design of petroleum storage caverns. Because the unlined rock caverns are under the condition of high pressure, the analysis and evaluation of the stability of rock caverns is complex. The research model originates from the layout of Huangdao water-sealed underground petroleum storage rock caverns, and then national and international research progress and status of analysis and evaluation on stability of rock caverns are summarized here; evaluating indicator on stability of rock caverns, which is based upon FEM, is taken as the evaluating criterion on the stability of rock caverns, and associated aspects affecting the stability of rock caverns are studied here. The content and emphasis of further study are introduced briefly. The conclusions reached will be useful for the design and construction of underground rock caverns.