Abstract: Underground Gas Storage in Hungary

FERINCZ, GYORGY, TIBOR MIKLOS and ARPAD OSZ, MOL

Underground storage of natural gas became necessary because of seasonal fluctuation of gas consumption. As a result of investment and development activity the underground storage of natural gas started in Hungary in the period between 1978 - 1981. Taking the advantage of convenient production the first underground storage was accomplished in already exhausted natural gas reservoirs. The most important of them is in Hajduszoboszlo and there are two smaller in Pusztaszolos and Pusztaederics. All these three are Lower and Upper Pannonian sandstones. After starting these storages the developments were accomplished gradually. The peak capacities of these storages are: Hajduszoboszlo 19 million m3/d, Pusztaszolos 3.4 million m3/d, Pusztaederics 2.9 million m3/d.

The increase of gas demand was the reason for a new gas storage. The gas storage started in 1990 in the Algyo field into the Maros-1 formation. Here presently 100 million m3 mobile gas is at disposal with a peak capacity of 1 million m3/d.

The accomplishment of the next gas storage Miocene limestone of Zsana-Eszak field was decided in 1992 and the gas injection started in April 1996. The peak capacity of this storage is 8 million m3/d.

The development activity is significant also nowadays is Maros-1 formation of Algyo field and in the Zsana-Eszak field. After finishing the development they will have the following peak capacities: Maros-1 3.7 million m3/d and Zsana-Eszak 20 million m3/d.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90942©1997 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Vienna, Austria