Dynamic Variation Characteristics of Seawater Intrusion in Underground Water-Sealed Oil Storage Cavern under Island Tidal Environment

• Main Authors: Yutao Li, Bin Zhang, Lei Shi, Yiwei Ye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-01-01
• Series: Water
• Subjects: underground water-sealed oil storage cavern; seawater intrusion; island tidal environment; vertical water curtain system; multi-physical field coupling
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/1/130

In the case of constructing underground water-sealed oil storage caverns in island environments, the groundwater seepage characteristics are more complicated under the influence of seawater and tidal fluctuations. It also faces problems such as seawater intrusion. This research is based on multi-physical field coupling theory and analyzed the influence of tidal fluctuation and water curtain systems on the temporal-spatial variations of seawater intrusion in an island oil storage cavern in China using the finite element method. The results show that the operation of an underground water-sealed oil storage cavern in an island environment has a risk of inducing seawater intrusion. The tidal fluctuation has a certain degree of influence on the seepage field of the island. The water curtain system can decrease seawater intrusion and reduce the influence of tidal fluctuation on the seepage field inside the island. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the study of seawater intrusion in underground oil storage caverns under island tidal environments.