Abstract: Compared with other oil storage types, underground water sealed cavern has significant advantages in terms of safety, economy and environmental protection. Ensuring the quality of engineering construction is the prerequisite for fully leveraging these advantages. However, there are some drawbacks in the construction quality inspection of water sealed caverns, including inadequate technical investment and poor management processes. These shortcomings result in potential risks to project quality and hinder the full utilization of cavern projects’ benefits. This study emphasizes the importance of project quality inspection in guaranteeing the quality of cavern projects, facilitating dynamic design adjustments, and strengthening process control. Taking into account the distinctive characteristics of underground water sealed oil cavern engineering, such as surrounding rock stability, water sealing, and maintenance conditions, we analyzed the key aspects of construction quality control and inspection. Considering the issues present in the quality inspection and management approach of cavern engineering, we discussed the establishment of an on-site third-party laboratory and highlighted its role and advantages. Furthermore, we proposed reasonable measures to ensure the effective operation of the third-party laboratory, along with the suggestion of developing specific technical regulations for quality inspection of water sealed cavern engineering.

Key words: underground water sealed cavern, stability of surrounding rock, water seal conditions, project quality inspection, third party laboratory