Cavern pressure management

Abstract

A cavern pressure control method includes storing compressible and possibly incompressible fluids in an underground storage volume, removing a portion or introducing additional incompressible fluid into the underground storage volume, possibly removing a portion or introducing additional compressible fluid into the underground storage volume, thereby producing a net pressure increase rate (P inc ) within the underground storage volume, wherein P inc is maintained at less than a predetermined maximum increase value (PI max ).

1 . A method of pressure management in an underground storage volume, comprising:
 storing a compressible fluid in an underground storage volume,   storing an incompressible fluid in said underground storage volume,
 and introducing additional compressible fluid into said underground storage volume, thereby producing a net pressure increase rate (P inc ) within said underground storage volume, 
   wherein P inc  is maintained at less than a predetermined maximum increase value (PI max ), wherein PI max  is 100 psi/hr, wherein said compressible fluid is hydrogen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said underground storage volume is an underground salt cavern. 
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said incompressible fluid is selected from the group consisting of brine, water, or water slurry. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein PI max  is 75 psi/hr. 
     
     
         8 . A method of pressure management in an underground storage volume, comprising:
 storing a compressible fluid in an underground storage volume,   storing an incompressible fluid in said underground storage volume, and   introducing additional incompressible fluid into said underground storage volume, producing a net pressure increase rate (P inc ) within said underground storage volume,   wherein P inc  is maintained at less than a predetermined maximum increase value (PI max ), wherein PI max  is 100 psi/hr, wherein said compressible fluid is hydrogen.   
     
     
         9 . A method of pressure management in an underground storage volume, comprising:
 storing a compressible fluid in an underground storage volume,   storing an incompressible fluid in said underground storage volume, and   introducing additional compressible fluid into said underground storage volume, and concurrently, removing a portion of said incompressible fluid from said underground storage volume, thereby producing a net pressure increase rate (P inc ) within said underground storage volume,   wherein P inc  is maintained at less than a predetermined maximum increase value (PI max ), wherein PI max  is 100 psi/hr, wherein said compressible fluid is hydrogen.   
     
     
         10 . A method of pressure management in an underground storage volume, comprising:
 storing a compressible fluid in an underground storage volume,   storing an incompressible fluid in said underground storage volume, and   removing a portion of said compressible fluid from said underground storage volume, and concurrently, introducing additional incompressible fluid into said underground storage volume, producing a net pressure increase rate (P inc ) within said underground storage volume,   wherein P inc  is maintained at less than a predetermined maximum increase value (PI max ), wherein PI max  is 100 psi/hr, wherein said compressible fluid is hydrogen.