Energinet.dk Gaslager A/S wants to establish extra storage capacity by expanding the existing natural gas storage facility at Lille Torup. Our plans involve new caverns, but at present it has only been decided to re-leach one of the existing caverns.

Purpose
An expansion is relevant in order to maintain security of supply in the years ahead when the production of natural gas in the Danish part of the North Sea is expected to decline and gradually be replaced by natural gas imported from other countries. So storing gas close to the consumers becomes more urgent.

Energinet.dk Gaslager also wants natural gas to be supplied at competitive prices. It is important to have access to storing gas when required in order to operate on the Danish natural gas market on a level playing field.

Facility
The Lille Torup gas storage facility comprises seven caverns – ie seven underground cavities with a total capacity of about 700 million cubic metres of natural gas. The caverns have been leached in the salt dome some 1,500 metres below ground. There are surface facilities and a wellhead above each cavern. The expansion plan includes up to nine new caverns.

The existing treatment plant consists of three compressors and three dehydration units. Apart from establishing a number of new caverns, there is also the possibility of enlarging the surface treatment plant by up to three new compressors and up to three new dehydration units.

Part of the expansion project also deals with the re-leaching of the existing seven caverns that have contracted by about ten per cent since they were established.

Commissioning
Leaching new caverns is a lengthy process. It takes about three years to leach a new cavern. With the construction work and gas filling, it takes 4-5 years to establish one new cavern. Two caverns can be leached at a time. If relevant, the total expansion project with nine new caverns will therefore take up to 25 years.