ABSTRACT
The challenges in storing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in lined rock caverns are outlined. Many attempts have been made in the past to store LNG underground in unlined containment, though without success. A new concept for storing LNG in lined rock caverns has been developed to provide a safe and cost-effective solution. It consists of protecting the host rock against the extremely low temperature and providing a liquid- and gas-tight liner. In order to verify the technical feasibility of this storage concept, a pilot plant was constructed for storing LNG and has been in operation since January 2004, though it has now been decommissioned. The overall monitored results from the pilot operations confirmed that the construction and operation of underground LNG storage in lined rock caverns are technically feasible. Underground LNG storage systems in lined rock caverns can be realized in some countries which have suffered from the shortage of storage capacity of LNG and seasonal extreme variation of domestic demand, and where industries are already developed and free remaining areas of land are small and expensive.
