Differential pressure power generation in UGS: Operational optimization model and its implications for carbon emission reduction

Underground Gas Storage (UGS) is an important facility for natural gas peak adjustment and ensuring the balance between energy supply and demand. The daily gas injection and production capacity of large UGS can reach several hundred million or even billions of cubic meters, and the energy consumed by the injection and production equipment is not to be underestimated, which also contains a large amount of pressure energy that can be utilized for power generation. In this context, the optimization of low-carbon operation of UGS is of great practical significance in engineering. In this study, an innovative UGS system operation optimization method is proposed to integrate a natural gas differential pressure generator set in the UGS system. Considering the complex interconnections among multiple storage areas, multiple wells and wellsites, and the hydro-thermodynamic constraints during the operation of injection and production pipeline network, and with the objective of minimizing the carbon emission, the UGS integrated with Differential Pressure Power Generation System (UGSIDPPGS) is established. In order to solve this complex model, this paper designs an optimization solution framework based on variational assignment, which effectively avoids the problem of falling into inferior solutions during the solution process. The optimization model is applied to the case study of a large-scale depleted gas reservoir in China, and the optimal operation schemes under three scenarios are successfully obtained. The results show that the UGSIDPPGS optimization model, not only effectively utilizes the pressure energy, generates up to 56.908 × 106 kW h per month, and reduces the CO2 emission by 56,738 tons, but also achieves the low-carbon and economic operation of the UGS. In conclusion, the operation strategy proposed in this study is of great value for optimizing the operation of UGS, and provides practical guidance and suggestions for the low carbon and environmental protection of UGS and the utilization of new energy sources.