Lng receiving terminal that primarily uses compensated salt cavern storage and method of use

A compensated salt cavern based storage facility for natural gas comprising:

• at least one compensated salt cavern;
• a source of natural gas selected from the group consisting of:
• an LNG receiving terminal, a natural gas pipeline and combinations thereof;
• means for filling the compensated salt cavern with natural gas;
• a pond for storage of a compensating liquid;
• and
• means for moving the compensating liquid into and out of the at least one compensated salt cavern;

A compensated salt cavern based storage facility for natural gas comprising:

• at least one compensated salt cavern;
• a source of natural gas from at least one natural gas pipeline;
• means for moving a compensating liquid into and out of the at least one compensated salt cavern;
• at least one compressor to compress natural gas from the at least one pipeline source;
• and
• at least one heat exchanger to cool the compressed natural gas to a temperature that is compatible with the compensated salt cavern, before the compressed natural gas is placed in the at least one compensated salt cavern for storage.

A method for operating a compensated salt cavern based natural gas storage facility comprising:

• filling a salt cavern with natural gas from a source of natural gas selected from the group consisting of:
• an LNG receiving terminal, a natural gas pipeline and combinations thereof;
• and
• drawing down the natural gas in the salt cavern by pumping a compensating liquid from a storage pond into the salt cavern to displace the natural gas and force the natural gas into a pipeline for delivery to market.

A method of storing natural gas in a compensated salt cavern based storage facility comprising:

• pumping a compensating liquid into at least one compensated salt cavern;
• compressing natural gas from a pipeline;
• cooling the compressed natural gas to a temperature that is compatible with the at least one compensated salt cavern;
• and
• injecting the cooled, compressed natural gas into the at least one compensated salt cavern thereby displacing the compensating liquid from the compensated salt cavern into a storage pond.

A method of storing natural gas in a compensated salt cavern based storage facility comprising:

• pumping a compensating liquid into the at least one compensated salt caver
• compressing natural gas from a pipeline;
• cooling the compressed natural gas to a temperature that is compatible with the at least one compensated salt cavern;
• and
• storing the cooled, compressed natural gas in the at least one compensated salt cavern.

A method for operating a compensated salt cavern based natural gas storage facility comprising:

• providing a source of natural gas selected from the group consisting of:
• an LNG receiving terminal, a pipeline and combinations thereof;
• providing at least one compensated salt cavern;
• filling the at least one compensated salt cavern with natural gas from the source and recovering a compensating liquid;
• and
• removing at lest a portion of the natural gas from the at least one compensated salt cavern by pumping the compensating liquid into the salt cavern.

A method for operating a compensated salt cavern based natural gas storage facility comprising:

• providing a source of natural gas from a pipeline;
• providing at least one compensated salt cavern;
• filling the at least one compensated salt cavern with natural gas and recovering a compensating liquid;
• and
• removing at least a portion of the natural gas from the at least one compensated salt cavern by pumping the compensating liquid into the salt cavern.

A method for converting an existing uncompensated salt cavern based natural gas storage facility into a compensated salt cavern based natural gas storage facility containing at least one salt cavern, the method comprising the following steps:

• drilling at least one well from the surface into the at least one salt cavern to a depth near the bottom of the at least on salt cavern for a compensating liquid;
• building a holding pond sized to contain enough of a compensating liquid to substantially fill the at least one salt cavern in the existing natural gas storage facility;
• and
• installing a pumping system, piping and controls for moving the compensating liquid between the at least one holding pond and the at least one salt cavern through the at least one well of the natural gas storage facility.