Method to increase gas mass flow injection rates to gas storage caverns using lng

Abstract

A method to increase gas mass flow loading rates to a gas storage cavern includes using liquid natural gas (LNG) to cool natural gas in a natural gas flow line upstream of a compressor used to compress gas for storage in to a gas storage cavern.

1 . A method to increase gas mass flow injection rates to a gas storage cavern, comprising:
 using liquid natural gas (LNG) to cool natural gas in a natural gas flow line upstream of a compressor used to compress gas for storage in to a gas storage cavern.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , including a step of effecting a heat exchange between the natural gas in the gas flow line upstream of the compressor and LNG passing through a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , including a step of using LNG to cool natural gas in the natural gas flow line downstream of a compressor prior to the compressed natural gas entering the gas storage cavern. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , including a step of injecting LNG into the natural gas flow line downstream of the compressor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , including a step of effecting a heat exchange between the natural gas in the gas flow line downstream of the compressor and LNG passing through a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , including a step of performing direct injection of LNG into the gas storage cavern. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , including a step of monitoring a temperature of the gas storage cavern and controlling the injection of LNG into the natural gas flow line downstream of the compressor based upon the temperature of the gas storage cavern. 
     
     
         8 . A method to increase gas mass flow injection rates to a gas storage cavern, comprising:
 effecting a heat exchange between the natural gas in a natural gas flow line upstream of a compressor used to compress gas for storage in to a gas storage cavern and liquid natural gas (LNG) passing through an upstream heat exchanger to cool natural gas in the natural gas flow line upstream of a compressor used to compress gas for storage in to a gas storage cavern; and   injecting LNG that has passed through the upstream heat exchanger into one of the natural gas flow line downstream of the compressor or into the gas storage cavern.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , including a step of effecting a heat exchange between the natural gas in the gas flow line downstream of the compressor and LNG passing through a downstream heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , including a step of monitoring a temperature of the gas storage cavern and performing injection of LNG into one of the natural gas storage flow line downstream of the compressor or the gas storage cavern, as required to maintain the gas storage cavern at a preselected temperature.