Method for controlling the pressure in an underground storage volume

Abstract

A method for controlling the pressure in an underground storage volume, wherein the underground storage volume is at least in part filled with an incompressible fluid, the pressure is monitored, a compressible fluid can be introduced into and extracted from the underground storage volume, if the pressure reaches a predetermined upper pressure limit incompressible fluid is extracted from the underground storage volume for reducing the pressure in the underground storage volume; if the pressure volume reaches a predetermined lower pressure limit incompressible fluid is introduced into the underground storage volume for increasing the pressure in the underground storage volume. The method according to the present invention allows the increase the amount of compressible fluid like helium stored in an underground storage volume, e.g. a salt cavern, by adjusting the pressure by the introduction or extraction of an incompressible fluid like brine.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.