Experimental investigation on the oil extraction process for a novel underground oil storage method: Oil storage in salt cavern insoluble sediment voids.

Large-scale underground oil storage is vital for addressing the energy crisis. Leveraging the insoluble sediment space at the bottoms of salt caverns for oil storage is particularly effective in high-impurity salt mines, enhancing oil storage capacity. The process of extracting oil from the sediment void is essential for utilizing this resource. Three experimental devices were developed to investigate this extraction process. We conducted experiments on oil extraction processes and rates for various oil types, analyzing weight changes and influencing factors. The sediment and water content in the extracted oil were also evaluated. Results indicated that extracting oil from the sediment void is feasible, yielding average recovery rates over 90.0 %. High-viscosity oil at 50 °C exhibited three stages: initial stability, a rapid rise, and final stability. Low-viscosity oil correlated with brine injection rates, displaying a rapid rise, stable phase, and subsequent decline. Petrolatum extraction was easier than diesel extraction, and ground temperature improved recovery rates. Changes in water and sediment content had minimal impact on oil quality. This research provides insights for large-scale underground energy storage. • A novel salt cavern insoluble sediment void oil storage method is proposed. • A series of oil extraction process experiments from the sediment void are conducted. • The extraction of oil quality from the salt cavern sediment void is analyzed. • The average oil recovery ratio from the salt cavern sediment void can reach 90 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]