US3848427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage of gas in underground excavation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-03-01
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1991-03-01
Abstract
Abstract Methods and systems for storing large volumes of gas, such as natural gas and the like, as commonly received from pipelines or tankers, in deep underground cavities under near-critical conditions of pressure and temperature. Part of the total gas received may be used to meet current requirements and the remainder stored during times of less than average demand, for use when demand is higher. Capital and operating costs of storing gas in ways disclosed make large scale storage attractive. As more gas is delivered from greater distances by more costly means, the need to accumulate gas in storage near markets, for use in emergencies and to keep the transportation system working at capacity, continually increases. This invention provides for this need, not only at attractive costs but also it provides a type of storage which can be built near many large markets where more conventional storage cannot; it requires little land and little surface construction. Gas is stored with maximum security and delivered with greatest availability.
Inventors
- 👤 R Loofbourow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:23
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/005; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/01; F17C2205/0123; F17C2205/013; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0326; F17C2205/0332; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/033; F17C2221/035; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2225/00; F17C2225/01; F17C2225/0107; F17C2225/0123; F17C2225/03; F17C2225/036; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/01; F17C2227/0128; F17C2227/0135; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0302; F17C2227/0304; F17C2227/0337; F17C2227/0367; F17C2227/0369; F17C2227/0372; F17C2227/0374; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0631; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/05; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0142; F17C2270/0144; F17C2270/0155; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of storage of pipeline gas received as compressed gas from a pipeline at pressures between about 700 to 1,200 psi and temperatures between about 40* to 80* F in an excavated underground storage facility including at least one excavated underground rock chamber, which method comprises: A. cooling said gas to about -50* to -150*F and charging to said storage facility at pipeline pressures, B. when said facility contains about one half of its maximum capacity, increasing the pressure and maintaining at moderately elevated level up to about 2,500 psi, C. maintaining the facility at reduced temperature between about -50* and -150* F, whereby the gas is maintained for storage predominantly in the gaseous state and is densified to store between about 75 and 475 cubic feet of gas to each cubic foot of storage space, D. circulating stored gas to heat exchangers at ground surface to cool the gas to maintain the storage temperature, E. discharging said stored gas upon demand, and F. after the quantity of stored gas has been reduced to about one half of its maximum, decreasing the pressure while maintaining the temperature between about +50* and -150* F.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of storage of pipeline gas received as compressed gas from a pipeline at pressures between about 700 to 1,200 psi and temperatures between about 40* to 80* F in an excavated underground storage facility including at least one excavated underground rock chamber, which method comprises: A. cooling said gas to about -50* to -150*F and charging to said storage facility at pipeline pressures, B. when said facility contains about one half of its maximum capacity, increasing the pressure and maintaining at moderately elevated level up to about 2,500 psi, C. maintaining the facility at reduced temperature between about -50* and -150* F, whereby the gas is maintained for storage predominantly in the gaseous state and is densified to store between about 75 and 475 cubic feet of gas to each cubic foot of storage space, D. circulating stored gas to heat exchangers at ground surface to cool the gas to maintain the storage temperature, E. discharging said stored gas upon demand, and F. after the quantity of stored gas has been reduced to about one half of its maximum, decreasing the pressure while maintaining the temperature between about +50* and -150* F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that the stored gas is cooled by absorption of heat in said heat exchangers by expansion of incoming gas from pipeline pressure to sendout trunkline pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that the stored gas is cooled by absorption of heat in said heat exchangers by expansion of incoming gas being charged to storage from pipeline pressure to storage pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that gas is withdrawn from the top of said chamber and cooled gas is reintroduced at the bottom of said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said storage facility comprises a plurality of storage chambers connected in series, and B. the pressure in each of said storage chambers downstream from the first chamber is maintained at a level lower than the pressure in the next adjacent upstream chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said gas to be stored is natural gas, B. a small amount of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is maintained in said storage chamber, and C. a portion of said natural gas is absorbed in said LPG, thereby increasing the capacity of said chamber.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of storage of pipeline gas received as compressed gas from a pipeline at pressures between about 700 to 1,200 psi and temperatures between about 40* to 80* F in an excavated underground storage facility comprising at least one excavated underground rock storage chamber and a plurality of other chambers adjacent to but separated from said storage chamber, which method comprises: A. cooling said gas to about -50* to -150*F and charging to said storage chamber at pipeline pressures, B. when said storage chamber contains about one half of its maximum capacity, increasing the pressure and maintaining at moderately elevated level up to about 2,500 psi, C. maintaining the storage chamber at reduced temperature between about -50* and -150* F, whereby the gas is maintained for storage predominantly in the gaseous state and is densified to store between about 75 and 475 cubic feet of gas to each cubic foot of storage space, D. circulating a heat exchanging fluid through said other separated chambers to maintain the storage temperature within said storage chamber, E. discharging said stored gas upon demand, and F. after the quantity of stored gas has been reduced to about one half of its maximum, decreasing the pressure while maintaining the temperature between about +50* and -150* F.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of storage of pipeline gas received as compressed gas from a pipeline at pressures between about 700 to 1,200 psi and temperatures between about 40* to 80* F in an excavated underground storage facility comprising at least one excavated underground rock storage chamber and a plurality of other chambers adjacent to but separated from said storage chamber, which method comprises: A. cooling said gas to about -50* to -150*F and charging to said storage chamber at pipeline pressures, B. when said storage chamber contains about one half of its maximum capacity, increasing the pressure and maintaining at moderately elevated level up to about 2,500 psi, C. maintaining the storage chamber at reduced temperature between about -50* and -150* F, whereby the gas is maintained for storage predominantly in the gaseous state and is densified to store between about 75 and 475 cubic feet of gas to each cubic foot of storage space, D. circulating a heat exchanging fluid through said other separated chambers to maintain the storage temperature within said storage chamber, E. discharging said stored gas upon demand, and F. after the quantity of stored gas has been reduced to about one half of its maximum, decreasing the pressure while maintaining the temperature between about +50* and -150* F.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |