Systems and methods for storing an energy- storage fluid within a subterranean formation having suppressed microbial activity

A method for storing an energy-storage fluid within a subterranean formation having suppressed microbial activity, the method comprising:

• injecting a high-salinity aqueous solution into the subterranean formation via at least one injection wellbore extending from a terranean surface and penetrating the subterranean formation, wherein the high-salinity aqueous solution comprises water and an inorganic salt, and wherein at least a portion of the high-salinity aqueous solution is held within the subterranean formation, and wherein injecting the high-salinity aqueous solution into the subterranean formation suppresses microbial activity in the subterranean formation;
• injecting the energy-storage fluid into the subterranean formation via the at least one injection wellbore to store at least a portion of the energy-storage fluid within the subterranean formation;
• and
• repeating, and/or alternating injections of the high-salinity aqueous solution and/or the energy-storage fluid over a predefined number of cycles to suppress microbial activity and store the energy-storage fluid in the subterranean formation.

A method for storing an energy-storage fluid within a subterranean formation having suppressed microbial activity, the method comprising:

• injecting a high-salinity aqueous solution into the subterranean formation via at least one injection wellbore extending from a terranean surface and penetrating the subterranean formation, wherein the high-salinity aqueous solution comprises water and an inorganic salt;
• wherein injecting the high-salinity aqueous solution into the subterranean formation suppresses microbial activity in the subterranean formation;
• and
• continuously injecting, following injection of the high-salinity aqueous solution, an energy-storage fluid compressed to a predefined temperature into the subterranean formation via the at least one injection wellbore for a predefined period of time, to store at least a portion of the energy-storage fluid within the subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation is at ambient temperature, wherein the predefined temperature of the energy-storage fluid is greater than a temperature of the subterranean formation, and wherein continuously injecting the compressed energy-storage fluid for a predefined period of time into the subterranean formation suppresses microbial activity in the subterranean formation.