Zhuhai Rock Storage Caverns

Conducting hydrogeologic modeling and providing support for storage caverns in mountainous granite.

Confidential
Zhuhai, China
Confidential

Two storage caverns were built in Zhuhai, China, to store butane and propane product. The caverns were developed in a mountainous terrain in a fractured granite. Product confinement in storage caverns was maintained through hydrodynamic containment. RESPEC was involved in conducting hydrogeologic modeling and provided support during the facility’s development. Three-dimensional numerical groundwater models were used to guide the grouting of access tunnels and understand the dewatering process during the facility’s development. Water-curtain galleries were built to ensure the containment of low-vapor pressure products.  The numerical groundwater models were also used to understand the effectiveness of water-curtain designs and any changes to the water-curtain designs that arose while developing the facility.