Natural gas energy storage function

Why is natural gas storage important?

Natural gas storages store surplus natural gas during the valley demand period and redistribute them at the peak demand period [92, 93]. The stored natural gas can also ensure the continuous gas supply when the long-distance transmission malfunctions [94, 95]. UGS plays a crucial role in the seasonal peak-shaving in some parts of China [96, 97].

How does natural gas storage work?

Natural gas storage can be done in different ways, but underground reservoirs are the most important method. The storage deals with pipelines, local distribution companies, producers, and pipeline shippers (US Department of Energy, US Energy Information Agency, March 1995). Catarina R. Matos,

How is natural gas stored?

Basically, it is an insurance against unforeseen supply needs. There are two methods for storing natural gas: LNG can be shipped and stored in liquid form. It takes up much less space than gaseous natural gas. It is shipped mostly on the seas. Most of the natural gas is stored in underground gas storages.

What are the different types of natural gas storage?

There are two kinds of natural gas storages: The difference between the two is deliverability. The base load storage is for meeting seasonal demand. The base load delivery rates are low – the natural gas can be extracted each day, but in limited quantities. In contrast, the peak load storage has a high-deliverability for short periods of time.

What is Natu-Ral-gas storage?

Historically, natu-ral-gas storage has been used for two key functions. First, it provides local distribution companies with adequate supply during periods of heavy demand by supplementing pipeline capacity and serving as backup supply in case of an interruption in wellhead production.

What percentage of natural gas is stored underground?

Approximately, 20% of all natural gas consumed during the 5-month winter heating season each year are supplied by underground storage. There are three principal types of underground storage sites used in the United States today: depleted natural gas or oil fields (80%), aquifers (10%), and salt formations (10%).