Method and system for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity in storage in an underground cavern
US8473227B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C11/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity in storage in an underground cavern generally comprises the steps of: establishing a volume function for a brine pond associated with the underground cavern; acquiring an image of the brine pond; transmitting the acquired image to a central processing facility; analyzing the acquired image to calculate a depth of the brine in the brine pond; estimating the volume of the brine in the brine pond based on the calculated depth and using the volume function; determining the amount of the liquid energy commodity in storage in the underground cavern associated with the brine pond based on the estimated volume of the brine in the brine pond; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in storage to a third-party market participant.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.