Abstract: From a strategic perspective, underground oil and gas storage protects the security and stability of acountry’s energy supply. Even in war, it could help deal with the upheaval of international oil and gas markets and slow down the impact on national economy. Since 1977, the United States strengthened its construction of oil and gas storage in underground karst caves and salt caverns, and did detailed experimental studies of the long-term safety and stability of the underground storages. These studies include (1) tests on the in-situ stress field of underground storage where the tectonic stress is typical; (2) static and dynamic monitoring of rock deformation of the underground storage during construction; (3) on-site rheological tests on the long-term stability of rocks in the underground storage; (4) tests of natural and artificial water-seal technology in underground storage; (5) compilation and application of standards and specifications on geotechnical classification and test methods around the subjects in (1) to (4). The studies ensured the safety and health of underground storage in the designed 100-year life time. These achievements could be taken as reference for the construction of oil and gas storage of underground water-sealed caves in China.

Key words: underground oil and gas storage, long-term stability, rheological test, safety of underground storage, health during lifetime