Research on Seepage Field in Fractured Rock Mass of Underground Oil Storage Cave Using Distinct Element Method

Abstract

The distribution of hydraulic pressure in fractured rock mass surrounding caverns after excavation and technique of stochastic generation of joint network are investigated based on discrete element method. In order to seal the oil in underground caverns with water in the actual engineering, a water curtain with water pressure is installed, and the changes of hydraulic pressure are simulated with a series of curtain pressures. It is shown that some joints that have been drained out during excavation can not be saturated if the water curtain pressure is less than a certain value. Water curtain pressure with a certain value gives a strong safe guarantee of saving oil in the underground petroleum storage caverns.