Salt Cavern

GeoContainment™ Evaluation

 

For Subsurface Storage Caverns and Solution Mining Operations

What is GeoContainment™ ?

The concept of GeoContianment™ is important to the design, construction and operation of underground salt caverns, which are commonly used hydrocarbon storage or disposal of toxic materials. In recent years, caprock failures and salt cavern roof collapses have made subsurface GeoContainment™ critical for public safety, environmental protection and corporate risk management. As a result, regulatory agencies are implementing increasingly stringent testing and periodic monitoring requirements. BGES combines a multi-disciplinary Geoscience & Engineering team with experienced operations personnel to provide integrated solutions for optimizing and protecting your assets. We offer a full suite of technical services for the entire lifecycle of a cavern – from initial assessments to cavern abandonment:

 

Please refer to the New Cavern Geotechnical Study page for an example of how BGES can help.

Salt Testing Services At-A-Glance
BGES Introduction Package

1

Exploration and Development

1. Testing services for initial geotechnical assessment and cavern development:

  • Geological & geotechnical test program design
  • Salt & caprock salt cores handling and management
  • Salt & caprock core laboratory analyses
  • Determination of in-situ stresses using DFIT
  • Numerical modelling study
  • Technical reviews

2

Pre-Commissioning

2. Pre-commissioning testing:

  • Project planning & test program design
  • Sonar survey
  • Radial analysis cement bond log (RCBL)
  • Casing inspection / integrity logs
  • Mechanical Integrity Test (MIT)
  • Technical reviews

4

Post Production / Abandonment

4.Cavern abandonment and long-term integrity evaluations:

  • Project planning & test program design
  • Sonar survey
  • Casing integrity / inspection log
  • Radial analysis cement bond log
  • Mechanical Integrity Test (MIT) / brine pressure test
  • Abandonment
  • End-of-life numerical modelling
  • Technical Reviews

3

Production / Operation

3. Production / operation monitoring & testing:

  • Project planning & test program design
  • Sonar survey
  • Radial analysis cement bond log (RCBL)
  • Casing inspection / integrity logs
  • Mechanical Integrity Test (MIT) and pressure tests
  • Multi-stage, multi-temp creep test
  • Other diagnostic / monitoring logs including temperature log, noise log, and pressure-temperature-flow log

Integration of Services

From wellsite core collection, geotechnical lab testing, cased-hole logging, reservoir and caprock injection testing, data analyses, project management, regulatory reporting, to computer simulation and numerical modelling, our comprehensive and customizable service model offers maximum flexibility for our clients.

Core Preservation & Management

Once the core samples arrive at our geotechnical lab, BGES ensures diligent preservation and management to maintain their integrity. We handle the cores with extreme care, immediately placing them in a controlled environment to preserve the original rock properties. This crucial step ensures that subsequent testing reflects the true characteristics of the storage formation and caprocks in-situ. After safe transport to our lab in Calgary, the cores undergo further processing and detailed analysis by our experienced technical professionals, ensuring high-quality results and reliable data.

Geotechnical Laboratory Testing

Geomechanical testing of salt cores provide critical inputs to a cavern’s numerical model and is required by regulators before the leaching/washing process can begin. BGES is currently the only commercial geomechanical lab in Canada to provide lab testing services for salt caverns and has developed a proprietary process for multi-stress permeability tests on caprock. Our laboratory testing and subsequent modeling program is designed to evaluate three major elements of formation behaviour related to cavern operations: Strength, Stiffness, and Creep. Our deliverable includes a detailed analysis on lab results completed by highly-qualified technical professionals.

Cased-Hole Logging

BGES is highly skilled in conducting logs for evaluating casing and cement integrity, determining fluid interface and locating cavern elements, etc. in high-pressure caverns. With over 20 years of experience in wireline services, we are dedicated to helping customers with any complex wireline projects in the most challenging environments. We take pride in being a one-stop-shop for a wide spectrum of logging needs; we believe that a streamlined approach provides optimal results.

Mechanical Integrity Testing (MIT)

BGES is actively developing new technologies to improve the execution and accuracy of cavern MITs while reducing the associated costs. Our latest patent-pending development is a multi-receiver density interface detection tool with a vertical resolution of up to 2” (or 5 cm) and capable of making continuous measurements of interface level, downhole pressure, and temperature.

Sonar Survey

BGES has formed official exclusive partnership with SOCON to provide high-quality sonar surveys to cavern operators across Canada. SOCON is a world-renowned sonar survey tool and equipment manufacturer. The company was established in 1991 in Germany and has remained as a specialist in high-quality sonar surveillance of underground caverns since.

Diagnostic Fracture Injection Test (DFIT)

A critical component of determining caprock integrity is the determination of in-situ stresses, which cannot be measured directly by any tools. DFIT is one of the most common and reliable techniques for indirectly measuring the formation’s minimum in-situ stress.
BGES’ analysis approach provides consistent interpretation using a combination of diagnostic tools to give the most dependable results. A comprehensive analysis and interpretation of results is conducted by experienced technical professionals.

Project Management / Technical Reviews

BGES’ project management/technical review services provide cost-effective solutions and valuable technical inputs for cavern design, development, operations, regulatory compliance, and end-of-life risk management. Our participation in due diligence / cold eyes review undertakings will provide key decision-supporting metrics for new projects, M&A reviews, and other business needs.

Cavern Simulation / Numerical Modelling

Cavern simulations can provide valuable insights into changes in in-situ stresses and conditions throughout the cavern’s lifecycle. Geomechanical modelling is heavily dependent on having accurate inputs with real-life data. This involves good data quality control, sound geological interpretation and correct model setup. At BGES, numerical modelling of caverns involves a 4-stage process using the WIPP-creep viscoplastic model and is performed by experienced subject matter experts.