The ongoing transformation of our energy landscape, as well as shifting geopolitical factors, are leading to increasing diversification in the sources of natural gas from Gas Family 2. This inevitably leads to significant fluctuations in the composition of natural gas in our transmission network and, consequently, in our natural gas storage facilities. At the same time, underground storage facilities are becoming increasingly important as a guarantee of supply security and economic resilience in Germany.
To address these uncertainties, the European Union is currently working to introduce new limit values for trace gases by revising the relevant standards:
A revised version of EN 16726 will also become a mandatory standard in Germany this year. The G260 will be based on this standard. Among other additives, it will specify limit values for oxygen, sulfur compounds, and hydrogen.
To gain initial insights into the impact of increased admixtures of associated gases on the integrity, efficiency, and capacity of underground storage facilities, the DGMK addressed this issue at an early stage. As a result, five relevant literature reviews were produced between 2012 and 2014 as part of our joint industrial research:
DGMK Research Report 752
The Effect of Hydrogen on Underground Gas Storage Facilities
DGMK Research Report 753
The Effect of Oxygen as a Trace Gas on Underground Gas Storage Facilities and Surface Facilities
DGMK Research Report 754
The Effect of Carbon Dioxide on Underground Gas Storage Facilities
DGMK Research Report 755
Effect of Sulfur Compounds and Odorants on Underground Gas Storage Facilities
DGMK Research Report 756
The Effect of Biogas and Hydrogen on Microbiology in Underground Gas Storage Facilities
The reports provide a very comprehensive overview showing that many fundamental mechanisms, relationships, and critical factors regarding potential admixtures in storage gas have already been documented. This provides a body of knowledge that can be built upon in a targeted manner, which serves as a valuable foundation for current and future issues and can equally stimulate further research. For example, it should be noted that further increases in the threshold limits are likely to have implications for the technical operation of storage facilities, in part due to the issue of potential interactions between the associated substances. There remains a need for further research in this area, including with regard to site-specific issues.
This anthology is intended to provide all stakeholders with a solid introduction to the topic and to offer food for thought for further research. This applies not only to storage operators but also to the relevant stakeholders involved in updating the applicable standards.
Dr. Jürgen Rückheim
Member of the DGMK Executive Board,
Chair of the Department
Geo-Energy-Systems and Subsurface Technologies