gasstorage

Gas storage is the set of facilities and operations used to store natural gas for later use. Its primary purpose is to balance seasonal and daily demand with supply, maintain system reliability, price stability, and provide a buffer against interruptions in production or delivery. Storage is mainly underground, but some gas is stored above ground in cryogenic or pressurized tanks at LNG terminals or other facilities.

Underground storage uses geological formations such as depleted oil or gas reservoirs, aquifers, and soluble rock caverns (salt caverns). Gas is injected when demand and prices are low, and withdrawn during periods of high demand. Each storage facility has working gas capacity, which can be cycled, and cushion gas, which remains to maintain pressure in the formation. The ability to inject and withdraw depends on reservoir characteristics, well design, and compression capacity.

LNG storage stores liquefied natural gas at very low temperatures in insulated storage tanks, typically at import terminals or gas processing facilities. LNG storage allows regasification on demand and helps handle large-volume import shipments between suppliers and markets.

Operational and regulatory aspects: Storage operators manage volumes, injection/withdrawal schedules, metering, and balancing obligations in the gas market. Safety and environmental considerations include leak detection, corrosion control, seismic and geomechanical integrity for salt caverns, and containment of methane. Regulatory frameworks govern licensure, capacity auctions, tariffs, and emergency planning.

Impact and trends: Gas storage underpins energy security and market liquidity by smoothing supply disruptions and price spikes. As the energy system evolves, some storage facilities are being analyzed for hydrogen or hydrogen-blend storage, and retrofitting considerations are examined for future decarbonization efforts.