Comparison of cavern formation in massive salt blocks with single-well and two-well systems

Abstract

The authors of this article have conducted a comparison study to investigate the construction characteristics of both single-well and two-well systems; two model experiments were conducted using large-size moulded rock salt specimens. An experimental platform was designed to simulate the process of leaching and a theoretical equation of calculating and predicting the cavern volume was derived. The experimental results illustrate that the variation trend of brine instantaneous concentration for single-well and two-well systems is identical, and an equilibrium state appears at last. Moreover, the equilibrium is reached early, after 5–8 pumping cycles. The construction rate in the two-well system is faster than the single-well system, and this phenomenon is observed mainly in the early periods (1–3 pumping cycles). Besides, the cavern shapes for the two construction methods are also found to be distinctive. The cavern of the single-well system has a circular cross section and an axisymmetric profile while that of the two-well system has an ovular cross section and a non-axisymmetric profile.

Keywords:

• Salt cavern
• solution mining
• single-well system
• two-well system
• construction rate

Acknowledgments

The experiment work was carried out by the colleagues at State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, whose assistance is greatly appreciated.