Sensitivity analysis of effective parameters on water curtain performance for crude oil storage in Iranian URC using the 2k factorial design and numerical modeling

Abstract Underground storage of hydrocarbons in unlined rock caverns (URC) has advantages over above-ground storage in terms of safety, environmental protection and economy. However seepage of products can cause many environmental and economical problems. Water curtain system is used as a part of hydrodynamic method to control seepage. Water curtains system is composed of a network of underground galleries and horizontal boreholes drilled from these galleries to establish groundwater pressure artificially. Iranian crude oil unlined storage caverns are to be excavated in Asmari limestone formation. This study aimed to clarify the effects of effective parameters on water curtains performance in the establishment of water pressure. To aim this purpose 2 k factorial statistical experimental design and numerical modeling using FLAC3D has been employed to evaluate the performance of artificial water curtain systems under various conditions include equivalent permeability and effective porosity of Asmari limestone, borehole pressure, borehole spacing and elevation, groundwater level and operation time of boreholes before the storage operation. The results showed that borehole pressure, permeability, borehole elevation and porosity have most significant effect in order of magnitude respectively. Regression model for 2 k factorial design was presented as well.