Safety device for underground storage of liquefied gas
AssigneeSociete Francaise de Stockage Geologique "Goestock"
InventorGeorges Berezoutzky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquefied gas such as propane is stored in underground galleries wherein there is a gaseous phase above a liquid phase and at the bottom, water in a sunk draining trap. The storage is worked, i.e., gas is introduced or extracted through tubes extending into the lower part of the liquefied gas. In case of emergency, failure or damage to the implements, the stored product is isolated. The water level is raised for covering the lower end of the tubes and water is allowed to rise up in the tubes until the pressures are in balance.
Claims14
An apparatus for underground storage of a liquefied gas in a storage chamber comprising:
- water disposed within predetermined levels at a bottom portion of said storage apparatus;
- liquefied gas disposed above said water level to a predetermined liquid level;
- gas in a gaseous phase disposed above said liquid level of said liquefied gas;
- at least one tube extending from ground level into said storage for controlling and working said storage from above;
- said at least one tube comprising at least one extraction tube for extracting said liquefied gas from said storage;
- means for generating an alarm signal in response to a change in said predetermined water levels;
- means for filling said at least one extraction tube up to a hydrostatic balance level within said at least one extraction tube;
- a trap for draining said water from said storage comprising a sunk draining trap in the form of a well disposed in a lower portion of said storage;
- and
- said at least one extraction tube having a suction opening formed therein and extending down into said trap along a distance such that the volume of said trap above said suction opening is sufficient for filling said at least one extraction tube up to said hydrostatic balance level.
A method for securing safety of an underground storage of hydrocarbon or liquefied product comprising:
- channeling water to a bottom portion of said storage such that a layer of water is formed therein;
- channeling liquefied product above and contiguous with said water;
- enclosing a gaseous phase of said liquefied product within said storage, said gaseous phase disposed above and contiguous with said liquefied product;
- introducing said liquefied product from a working level above said product, such as a ground level, by means of filling tubes extending from said working level into said liquefied product;
- extracting said product from a working level above said product, such as a ground level, by means of at least one extraction tube extending from said working level into said product;
- and
- closing all said connection tubes when it is not possible to remedy in due time a failure of any working device or accidental or intentional breaking of an implement disposed at ground level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.