Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)

Geological Performance for Natural Gas and Salt Reservoirs

Develop an engineering and operational understanding of CAES performance for a reservoir; assess potential hazards of CAES in depleted natural gas reservoirs; and begin to determine effects of cyclic loading upon rock salt mechanical response.

Thermal-Mechanical-Hydrologic Response of Geological Formations

Develop a fundamental understanding of the coupled Thermal-Mechanical-Hydrologic (TMH) response of geologic storage formations (salt caverns, depleted oil/gas reservoirs, aquifers) subjected to cyclic loading through an integrated analysis and experimental program. Various depths will be studied as will different degrees of cyclic loading.