WO2010150010A4 - Apparatus and methods for forming and using subterranean salt cavern - Google Patents

Apparatus and methods for forming and using subterranean salt cavern Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010150010A4
WO2010150010A4 PCT/GB2010/051036 GB2010051036W WO2010150010A4 WO 2010150010 A4 WO2010150010 A4 WO 2010150010A4 GB 2010051036 W GB2010051036 W GB 2010051036W WO 2010150010 A4 WO2010150010 A4 WO 2010150010A4
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
string
conduit
flow
cavern
conduit string
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2010/051036
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2010150010A2 (en
WO2010150010A3 (en
Inventor
Bruce Arnold Tunget
Original Assignee
Bruce Arnold Tunget
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB0910779.8A external-priority patent/GB0910779D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB0911672.4A external-priority patent/GB0911672D0/en
Priority claimed from US12/587,360 external-priority patent/US8397819B2/en
Application filed by Bruce Arnold Tunget filed Critical Bruce Arnold Tunget
Priority to EP10791688.4A priority Critical patent/EP2446106B1/en
Priority to RU2012102286/03A priority patent/RU2531955C2/en
Publication of WO2010150010A2 publication Critical patent/WO2010150010A2/en
Publication of WO2010150010A3 publication Critical patent/WO2010150010A3/en
Publication of WO2010150010A4 publication Critical patent/WO2010150010A4/en

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/18—Pipes provided with plural fluid passages
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
    • E21B21/12—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing, or removing tools, packers or the like in the boreholes or wells
    • E21B23/08—Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems
    • E21B23/12—Tool diverters
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/006—Production of coal-bed methane
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/28—Dissolving minerals other than hydrocarbons, e.g. by an alkaline or acid leaching agent
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/29—Obtaining a slurry of minerals, e.g. by using nozzles
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21F—SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
    • E21F17/00—Methods or devices for use in mines or tunnels, not covered elsewhere
    • E21F17/16—Modification of mine passages or chambers for storage purposes, especially for liquids or gases

Abstract

Apparatus for solution mining and gas storage in a salt cavern (26) formed by solution mining comprises a flow diverting conduit string (70) provided in fluid communication with two or more concentric conduits (2, 2A) within the single main bore, with at least one lateral opening (44) from an internal passageway (25) with an outer annular passageway (24) communicating with the surface under a single valve tree. Flow control devices (25A), flow diverters (47) and/or isolation conduits (22) can be inserted into the flow diverting conduit string, enabling a dissolution zone in the salt cavern to be varied to control the shape of the cavern. Furthermore the flow diverting conduit string used to form the cavern can also be used for dewatering and gas storage.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS
received by the International Bureau on 21 May 201 1 (21.05.1 1 )
CLAIMS 1. A permanently installable flow diverting conduit string (70, 76) for selectively injecting fluid into or extracting fluid from at least one subterranean borehole in salt or a subterranean salt cavern (26) using conveyed isolation tools (22, 22A, 22B, 25A, 47, 91, 115, 125) placeable and removable using a coiled string, said conduit string comprising: an inner conduit string (2) disposed within an outer conduit string (2A), with an inner passageway (25) usable for placing and removing conveyed isolation tools using a coiled string in said inner conduit string and with a first annular passageway (24) between said inner and outer conduit strings; characterised by said conduit string (70) comprising at least one lateral opening (44, 64, 67, 90) controllable by said conveyed isolation tools and usable for communicating said tools or fluid through said inner or outer conduit string (2/2A), said conveyed isolation tools being selectively placeable or removable using a coiled string, said lateral opening communicating with at least one of said inner passageway (25) or said first annular passageway (24) and with said borehole or cavern (26), wherein said conveyed isolation tools are (21, 22, 23, 25A, 47, 51, 51 A, 65, 71) arranged to control flow of said fluid between or along at least one of said inner passageway (25) or said first annular passageway (24) to enable said flow- diverting conduit string (70) to be placed once for storage and extraction of gases, hydrocarbon liquids, solution mining operations, subterranean hydrocarbon separation and dewatering operations, or combinations thereof.
2. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to claim 1, wherein said lateral opening (44) is formed in said outer conduit string (2A), and wherein said conveyed isolation tools are selectively usable during operation of said flow diverting conduit string to direct a flow of water or a storable fluid to or receive a flow of brine or a storable fluid from a dissolution zone, a storage zone, or combinations thereof, in said subterranean borehole or salt cavern (26).
3. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to claim 2, wherein said conveyed isolation tools comprise a flow diverter (47) selectively placeable and removable using a coiled string, wherein said flow diverter is disposed in said inner passageway (25) of said inner conduit string (2) and has a bore communicating between said inner passageway and said at least one lateral opening (44), said flow diverter allowing flow past said flow diverter through said first annular passageway (24).
4. A flow diverting conduit string according to claim 3, further comprising an exit conduit extension (115) selectively placeable and removable using a coiled string, wherein said exit conduit extension projects into said borehole or said cavern (26) through said bore of said flow diverter (47).
5. A flow diverting conduit string according to claim 2, wherein said conveyed isolation tools comprise a plug (25A) selectively placeable and removable using a coiled string, wherein said plug is disposed in said inner passageway (25) of said inner conduit string (2), said plug allowing flow past said plug through said first annular passageway (24).
6. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to claim 3 or claim 5, wherein at least one additional opening (23, 38, 44X) is formed in the wall of said inner conduit string (2) below said flow diverter (47) or plug (25A) to allow flow of fluid to cross over between said inner passageway (25) and first annular passageway (24).
7. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said conveyed isolation tools comprise upper and lower flow diverters (47), plugs (25A), or combinations thereof, selectively placeable and removable using a coiled string and disposed within said inner passageway (25), each plug blocking said inner passageway and each flow diverter having a bore communicating with said inner passageway and terminating in a respective lateral opening (44), at least one further opening being formed in the wall of said inner conduit string (2) between said upper and lower flow diverters, plugs, or combinations thereof to allow flow to or from the lower flow diverter or to or from a lateral opening of the inner passageway blocked by a lower plug to cross over between the inner passageway (25) and the first annular (24) passageways.
8. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to any of claims 2 to 7 further comprising a plurality of lateral openings (44) for use at different subterranean depths within said bore or cavern (26) in said inner conduit string (2), said plurality of lateral openings being selectively openable and closable with said conveyed isolation tools to vary the disposition of the dissolution or storage zone.
9. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to claim 8 wherein said conveyed isolation tools comprise an isolation conduit (22, 22A, 22B, 91, 125) placeable from the inner passageway (25) of said flow diverting conduit string (70) and being movable in an axial direction to open or close said lateral opening (44), open or close said at least one additional lateral opening (23, 38, 44X, 90), bridge a discontinuous section of said inner passageway, or combinations thereof.
10. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to any preceding claim wherein said conveyed isolation tools comprise an isolation subassembly (71) at an upper end thereof for engaging a casing (3), said isolation subassembly comprising: an annular isolation device (40) that defines a second annular passageway (40B) around said outer conduit string below said annular isolation device, and flow control means (62) including a bypass passageway (65) which communicates with said second annular passageway and enables fluid to be injected through said bypass passageway into said second annular passageway to control a water level (3B) in said subterranean borehole or salt cavern (26) whereby said water level can be varied during a solution mining operation.
11. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to claim 10, wherein said bypass passageway (65) is disposed within said first annular passageway (24) and communicates between orifices (64, 67) in said inner (2) and outer (2A) conduit strings and said flow control means (62) is accessible from said inner passageway (25) for controlling flow through said bypass passageway (65).
12. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to any preceding claim, further comprising a production casing enclosed subsurface valve arrangement (51 A, 78, 105, 112) for controlling flow of fluid stored in said cavern (26) and a protective member (22, 22A, 22B, 125) which isolates opposing fluid flows within or about said subsurface valve arrangement during solution mining, said protective member being selectively removable or replaceable with a coiled string from within said inner passageway (25) to bring said subsurface valve arrangement into communication with said flow of fluid.
13. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to claim 12, wherein said conveyed isolation tools (22, 22A, 22B, 91, 125) comprise a conduit located in a differential pressure bearing sealing arrangement (58, 89, 94, 97, 102, 110, 1 1 1) within said inner passageway (25) or within an exit bore (39) communicating therewith.
14. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to any preceding claim, wherein a third inner conduit (22, 22A, 22B, 65, 104, 106) is disposed within said inner conduit string (2) or between said inner conduit string and said outer conduit string (2A) and defines a third annular passageway between said third inner conduit and said inner conduit string or between said inner conduit string and said outer conduit string.
15. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to claim 13 οτ claim 14, wherein said conduit (22, 22A, 22B, 91, 125) is removably located in a sealing arrangement by at least one engagement mandrel (60, 92, 96, 109) engaging an end of said conduit and providing a differentially pressure bearing continuation of said inner conduit string (2) or exit bore (39).
16. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to any preceding claim which is formed from sections each comprising: i) conduits of said inner conduit string section having threaded ends for screwing to complementary threaded ends of adjacent inner conduit string sections, and ii) conduits of said outer conduit string section having ends which abut adjacent outer conduit string ends when the inner conduit string section is screwed to its adjacent inner conduit string ends, the inner conduit string ends being screwed together and the abutting outer conduit string ends being welded together.
17. A flow diverting conduit string according to any of claims 1 to 15 which is formed from sections each comprising-. i) conduits of said outer conduit string section having snap fitting ends for engagement to complementary snap fitting ends of adjacent outer conduit string sections, and
ii) conduits of said inner conduit string section having mandrel ends which are resiliency sealed to adjacent inner conduit string receptacle ends when the outer conduit string mandrel section is snapped to its adjacent outer conduit string ends.
18. A flow diverting conduit string (70) according to any preceding claim further comprising an additional conduit string (39, 70, 114) communicating with and branching from said at least one lateral opening of said flow diverting conduit string, said additional conduit string having at least one downhole opening locatable in a production zone, storage zone or dissolution zone associated with said borehole and comprising an inner conduit string (2) disposed within an outer conduit string (2A), with an inner passageway (25) in said inner conduit string being disposed within a first annular passageway (24) between said inner and outer conduit strings thereof.
19. A method for forming or using at least one bore or subterranean cavern (26) within a salt deposit, wherein a single placement of a permanently installable flow diverting conduit string (70, 76) is used to access said cavern during storage, extraction, solution mining, subterranean hydrocarbon separation, dewatering, or combinations thereof comprising the steps oft i) providing an inner conduit string (2) disposed within an outer conduit string (2A), with an inner passageway (25) usable for placing and removing conveyed isolation tools (22, 22 A, 22B, 25A, 47, 91, 115, 125) using a coiled string to control flow through at least one lateral opening (23, 38, 44, 44X, 64, 67, 90) that is usable for communicating said conveyed isolation tools or fluid volumes between said inner passageway (25) and a first annular passageway (24) or between said inner passageway (25) and said cavern to form a permanently installable flow diverting conduit string (70); ii) placing said flow diverting conduit string (70) within said at least one salt deposit; and iii) selectively placing and removing said conveyed isolation tools to control fluid communication between said at least one lateral opening and said inner passageway (25), said first annular passageway (24), a cavern (26), or combinations thereof to control said forming and using of said cavern by controlling the injecting of fluid into or extracting of fluid from a subterranean borehole in salt deposit or said subterranean salt cavern (26).
20. A method of forming a subterranean salt cavern (26) by solution mining according to claim 19, the method further comprising the steps of: i) forming a first borehole in a salt deposit (5); ii) locating said permanently installable flow diverting conduit string (70) in said first borehole, said flow diverting conduit string having at least one lateral opening in a dissolution zone of said first borehole; iii) injecting water into said flow diverting conduit string and through said lateral opening to dissolve salt in said dissolution zone to form brine and enlarge said dissolution zone to form a salt cavern (26); iv) extracting said brine from said first borehole using said flow diverting conduit string (70); and v) selectively controlling flow through said at least one lateral opening (44) in said flow diverting conduit string (70) using said conveyed isolation tools to control said lateral opening, whereby water flows through said lateral opening to said dissolution zone or brine flows through said lateral opening from said dissolution zone.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said lateral opening (44) is formed in said outer conduit string (2A) and a flow of water or mixed hydrocarbons and water is directed from said lateral opening to said dissolution zone.
22. A method according to claim 20 or claim 21, wherein said conveyed isolation toots comprise a flow diverter (47) or plug (25A) selectively placeable and removable using a coiled string and disposed in said inner passageway (25) of said flow diverting conduit string (70) and
i) diverts water flowing downwardly through said inner passageway to said lateral opening and thence to said dissolution zone, allowing brine, from said dissolution zone to flow upwardly through said first annular passageway (24) past said flow diverter, ii) diverts brine, entering said lateral opening from said dissolution zone upwardly through said inner passageway, allowing water flowing downwardly through said first annular passageway (24) to flow past said flow diverter to said downhole opening, or
iii) combinations thereof.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said conveyed isolation tools further comprise an exit conduit extension (115) selectively placeable and removable using a coiled string, wherein said exit conduit extension projects into said borehole or said cavern (26) through a bore of said flow diverter (47), the method further comprising deploying one or more tools in said borehole or cavern by means of a coiled string which extends through said exit conduit extension.
24. A method according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein at least one additional opening (23. 38, 44X) is formed in the wall of said inner conduit string (2) below said flow diverter (47) or plug (25A) and a flow of water or brine crosses over between said inner passageway (25) and said first annular passageway or cavern (26).
25. A method according to any of claims 19 to 23, wherein said conveyed isolation tools comprise upper and lower flow diverters (47), plugs (25A), or combinations thereof, selectively placeable and removable using a coiled string, wherein said upper and lower flow divcrters (47), plugs (25A), or combinations thereof are disposed within said inner passageway (25), each flow diverter having a bore communicating with said inner passageway or plug blocking said inner passageway, and selectively diverting flow to or from a respective lateral opening (44), wherein at least one additional opening is formed in the wall of said inner conduit string (2) between said upper and lower flow divcrters, plugs, or combinations thereof, whereby flow to or from the lower flow diverter or flpw that is diverted by the lower plug crosses over between the inner (25) and the first annular (24) passageways.
26. A method according to any of claims 20 to 25, wherein a plurality of lateral openings (44) are provided at different subterranean depths within said bore or cavern (26) in said inner conduit string (2), the method further comprising selectively opening and closing at least one of said plurality of lateral openings using said conveyed isolation tools to vary the depth of fluid flow to or from said flow diverting string within said bore or cavern (26).
27. A method according to any of claims 20 to 26, wherein said conveyed isolation tools comprise at least one isolation conduit (22, 22A, 22B, 91. 125), the method further comprising using said at least one isolation conduit to close said at least one lateral opening (44) or additional opening (23, 38, 44X), wherein said isolation conduit is selectively placeable from said inner passageway of said flow diverting string (70) and movable in an axial direction to open or dose said lateral opening.
28. A method according to any of claims 20 to 27, wherein a second annular passageway (40B) is formed around said outer conduit string (2A) below an annular isolation device (40), the method further comprising injecting fluid into said second annular passageway to vary a water level (3B) in said subterranean borehole or salt cavern (26) and thereby vary the height of said dissolution zone.
29. A method according to any of claims 20 to 28, wherein at least one lateral borehole branching off from a flow diverting string (76) associated with said first borehole is drilled into said salt formation, and at least one additional flow diverting string (70) communicating with the lower ends of a junction of wells (51 A) is inserted into said at least one lateral borehole, and one or more salt caverns are formed by solution mining through said additional flow diverting string.
30. A method according to claim 19, further comprising at least one of the steps of: i) controlling flow of injected fluid down one of said conduit string passageways out of said downhole opening at one subterranean depth to force fluid out of said cavern (26) at a different subterranean depth into said lateral opening and upward through said conduit string; or ii) controlling flow of injected fluid downward and through said at least one lateral opening (44, 64, 67, 90, ) in said outer conduit string at one subterranean depth to force fluid out of said cavern (26) at a different subterranean depth into said at least one downhole opening.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said conveyed isolation tools comprise a flow diverter (47) or plug (25A) is disposed in said inner passageway (25) and the method further comprising: i) diverting injected fluid flowing downwardly through said inner passageway to said lateral opening and thence to said cavern (26), forcing fluid from said cavern to flow upwardly through said first annular passageway (24) past said flow diverter or plug, ii) diverting fluid, entering said lateral opening from said cavern (26), upwardly through said inner passageway, in response to injected fluid flowing downwardly through said first annular passageway (24) past said flow diverter or plug, or iii) combinations thereof.
32. A method according to any of claims 20 to 31, wherein said flow diverting conduit string (70) is formed from sections each comprising: i) conduits of said inner conduit string section having threaded ends for screwing to complementary threaded ends of adjacent inner conduit string sections, and ii) conduits of said outer conduit string section having ends which abut adjacent outer conduit string ends when the inner conduit string section is screwed to its adjacent inner conduit string ends, the inner conduit string ends being screwed together and the abutting outer conduit string ends subsequently being welded together.
33. A method according to any of claims 20 to 31, wherein said flow diverting string is formed from sections each comprising:
i) conduits of said outer conduit string section having snapped ends for snapping to complementary snap ends of adjacent outer conduit string sections, and
ii) conduits of said inner conduit string section having mandrel ends which are resiliently sealed to adjacent inner conduit string receptacle ends when the outer conduit string section is snapped to its adjacent outer conduit string ends.
34. A method according to any of claims 20 to 31 further comprising injecting or retrieving fluid hydrocarbon from at least one of said inner passageway (25) and said first annular passageway (24), wherein said fluid hydrocarbon is stored, separated, or combinations thereof within said cavern (26) between said injection and retrieval lateral opening depths mat are selectively controlled by said conveyed isolation toots.
35. The method of claim 19, wherein the flow diverting string (70, 76) comprises a plurality of lateral openings (44), and wherein the step of providing the liquid through the flow diverting string to the subterranean salt deposit, further comprises the steps of: i) using said conveyed isolation tools to selectively provide the liquid through at least a first of the lateral openings (44) to dissolve a first portion of the salt into the liquid and form a first portion of the subterranean cavern; and i) selectively using said conveyed isolation tools to provide the liquid through at least a second of the lateral openings to dissolve a second portion of the salt into the liquid and form a second portion of the subterranean cavern.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of selectively providing the liquid through said at least a first of the lateral openings (44), selectively providing liquid through an additional lateral opening (23, 38, 44, 44X, 64, 67, 90), or combinations thereof comprises preventing flow of the liquid through at least a third lateral opening using said conveyed isolation tools (25A, 47).
37. The method of claim 35 or claim 36, further comprising the step of providing a cushion fluid into the subterranean cavern (26) to prevent contact between the liquid and a selected portion of the salt.
38. The method of any of claims 35 to 37, wherein the flow diverting string (70, 76) comprises a first conduit (2) and a second conduit (2A), and wherein the step of selectively removing the liquid containing dissolved salt from the subterranean cavern (26) comprises providing a fluid into the subterranean cavern through the first conduit to displace the liquid and the portion of the salt into the second conduit using said conveyed isolation tools to control said at least one lateral opening at a selected depth.
39. The method of any of claims 35 to 38, wherein the flow diverting string (70, 76) comprises a first conduit (2) and a second conduit (2A), wherein the step of selectively providing the hydrocarbon fluid into the subterranean cavern for storage, retrieval, separation, or combinations thereofj comprises providing the hydrocarbon fluid through the first conduit, thereby displacing the liquid containing dissolved salt into the second conduit, and wherein the step of removing the hydrocarbons or liquid containing dissolved salt from the subterranean cavern comprises receiving the hydrocarbons above the liquid interface (3C) or liquid containing dissolved sail below said liquid interface through the second conduit using said conveyed isolation tools to control said at least one lateral opening at a selected depth.
40. The method of any of claims 35 to 39, wherein the step of providing the hydrocarbon fluid into the subterranean cavern (26) for storage comprises installing at least one safety or isolation apparatus (78, 105, 108) selectively accessible with coiled string conveyed tools through said inner passageway (25) above or into the flow diverting string (70, 76).
41. The method of claim 40, wherein the flow diverting string (70, 76) comprises an inner conduit (2) and an outer conduit (2A), and wherein the step of installing said at least one safety or isolation apparatus (15, 78, 105, 108) above or into said flow diverting string comprises: i) removing a conduit (125) bridging a discontinuous section of said inner conduit with a conduit (125), ii) installing said at least one safety or isolation apparatus therein, iii) replacing said conduit bridging the discontinuous section of said inner conduit, iv) removing said fluid from said cavern (26) through said inner conduit, and v) removing said conduit bridging a discontinuous section of said inner conduit allowing said at least one safety or isolation apparatus to selectively control said inner and outer conduits by closing across their inside diameters using said conveyed isolation tools.
42. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of preventing flow of the liquid through said at least one other of the lateral openings using said at least one isolation apparatus comprises actuating said at least one apparatus using a coiled string comprising braided wire line or a slick wire line to selectively place said at least one isolation apparatus at a selected depth within said bore or cavern.
43. The method of any of claims 35 to 42, further comprising the steps of i) providing at least one additional flow Averting string (70) into at least one additional subterranean cavern; and
i) providing a chamber junction within a junction of wells (51) in communication with said flow diverting string (70,76) and said at least one additional flow diverting string (70), and with the surface via at least one main conduit, forming a flow diverting string (76).
44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of selectively accessing the flow diverting string, said at least one additional flow diverting string, or combinations thereof by using a coiled string to insert a bore selector (47) into the chamber junction, wherein the bore selector is selectively piaccable and removable using a coiled string, and wherein the bore selector prevents access to at least one of; the flow diverting string, said at least one additional flow diverting string, or combinations thereof
45. The method of any of claims 35 to 44, further comprising the step of anchoring the flow diverting string (70, 76) to a bottom of said bore or subterranean salt cavern (26) to centralize and distance said flow diverting string from debris falling from said bore or subterranean cavern walls.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of anchoring the flow diverting string
(70, 76) comprises permitting insoluble materials to fall to the bottom of the subterranean salt cavern to selectively access fluids through a permeable sump.

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19(1) - (RULE 46.4)

The impact of the amendments to description and the drawings for PCT/GB2010/051036 as a result of the EPO International Search Report dated 22 March 2011 are as follows:

The drawings require no changes.

The original description is to be amended to reference the references cited in an EPO Search Report and Written Opinion for the corresponding GB Application, specifically US 6460936B1, US5366030 and WO00/36270,

As specified in Applicant's original description, Applicant's "methods, systems, and apparatuses" arc usable in "the creation and operation of large volume storage caverns formed in subterranean salt deposits, located on-shore and off-shore, primarily used for the storage of gases and/or liquids, such as hydrocarbons used in the supply of energy." and "are capable of withstanding the thermal cycling involved with intermittently compressing and expanding large volumes of gas, storing liquids, dewatering and solution mining to reduce the quantity of resources needed, by simplifying the logistics required for construction of an offshore gas storage cavern with a single flow diverting string usable to perform necessary functions, which would require multiple string installations and removals when using conventional apparatuses, systems and methods."

As further specified in Applicant's original description, "a flow diverting string can be permanently used during solution tninjng, dewatering, and storage operations to replace leaching strings, and other strings normally used after removal of the leaching string" Various "required tools and equipment, drilling bottom hole assemblies, coiled tubing, wire line bottom hole assemblies, and similar items for performing an operation on a selected well bore can be lowered through the conduit, into the upper opening of the bore selection tool disposed within the chamber junction, then guided by the bore selection tool through a lower opening in the bore selection tool to enter the selected well bore." "This, enables operations to be performed through the lateral opening that correspond to the aligned additional orifice by circulating gases and/or fluids, passing tools, coiled tubing, and/or other similar objects through the internal bore of the flow diverter" to perform said necessary functions.

Amendments to Applicant's claims have been submitted to distinguish Applicant's claimed apparatus and methods, as provided in Applicant's original description, from those cited in the EPO Search Report. For example, the amendments to the claims include a "[permanently installable flow diverting] conduit string for [selectively] injecting fluid into or extracting fluid from [at least one] subterranean borehole in salt, or a subterranean salt cavern, [using conveyed isolation tools, placeable and removable using coiled string]" with "at least one lateral opening [controllable by said conveyed isolation tools and usable for communicating said tools or fluid]" "to enable said flow-diverting vonduit string to be [placed once]." It is believed that these amendments clarify the claimed embodiments and distinguish the claims from the existing methods, which use nozzles with small apertures for forming highly pressurized water forces for mining coal seams, described in U.S. Patent No. 6,460,936B1 and U.S. Patent No. 5,366,030, and multi-lateral technology as described in WO 00/36270.

PCT/GB2010/051036 2009-06-23 2010-06-22 Apparatus and methods for forming and using subterranean salt cavern WO2010150010A2 (en)

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EP10791688.4A EP2446106B1 (en) 2009-06-23 2010-06-22 Apparatus and methods for forming and using subterranean salt cavern
RU2012102286/03A RU2531955C2 (en) 2009-06-23 2010-06-22 Device and methods for formation and use of underground salt cavern

Applications Claiming Priority (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0910779.8A GB0910779D0 (en) 2009-06-23 2009-06-23 Large volume low temperature well structure
GB0910779.8 2009-06-23
GB0911672.4 2009-07-06
GBGB0911672.4A GB0911672D0 (en) 2009-07-06 2009-07-06 Through tubing cable rotary system
US12/587,360 2009-10-06
US12/587,360 US8397819B2 (en) 2008-11-21 2009-10-06 Systems and methods for operating a plurality of wells through a single bore
GB0920214.4 2009-11-19
GB0920214A GB2465478B (en) 2008-11-21 2009-11-19 Apparatus and methods for operating a plurality of wells through a single bore
GB1004961.7 2010-03-25
GB1004961.7A GB2471354B (en) 2009-06-23 2010-03-25 Apparatus and methods for operating one or more solution mined storage wells through a single bore

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WO2010150010A3 WO2010150010A3 (en) 2011-05-05
WO2010150010A4 true WO2010150010A4 (en) 2011-07-28

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US9719311B2 (en) 2017-08-01
GB201010480D0 (en) 2010-08-04
RU2531955C2 (en) 2014-10-27
EP2446106B1 (en) 2018-11-21
GB2471385B (en) 2011-10-19
EP2446106A2 (en) 2012-05-02
GB2471385A (en) 2010-12-29
RU2012102286A (en) 2013-07-27
US20110206459A1 (en) 2011-08-25
WO2010150010A2 (en) 2010-12-29
WO2010150010A3 (en) 2011-05-05
US20130043031A1 (en) 2013-02-21
US8714874B2 (en) 2014-05-06
US9366126B2 (en) 2016-06-14
US20140241803A1 (en) 2014-08-28

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