College of Mining, NUST MISIS, Moscow, Russia:

A. V. Myaskov, Director, Professor, Doctor of Economic Sciences
S. M. Popov, Professor, Doctor of Economic Sciences, s.popov@inbox.ru

Bakor-Keramika Research and Production Association, Moscow, Russia:

E. M. Popov, Mineral Processing Engineer

Underground storage facilities are taking ever-growing part in the no-break gas deliveries to domestic and foreign consumers. Availability of such storages makes it possible to smooth loads in case of peak demand for gas, and to ensure reliable supply and storage of strategic natural gas stock. Importance of underground storage facilities rises owing to expansion of gas market, widening of foreign cooperation and enhanced responsibility for breakdowns in gas deliveries. As a rule, a final recipient of natural gas is situated far away from a gas production spot. For this reason, gas-producing companies fail to demonstrate flexible response to seasonal fluctuations on the European gas markets. Arrangement of gas reserves in close vicinity to sales markets offers an opportunity to promptly satisfy any demands of consumers. In this regard, an emphasis should be laid on feasibility of creating underground gas facilities in mined-out voids in coal mines in East Donbass. Creation of underground gas storage facilities in mines enhances efficiency of coal mining industry in the region as a depleted coal deposit is subsequently utilized as the gas storage. Such underground storage facilities can be the efficient tool of responsive management over foreign and domestic gas markets. The interest in the regional storage facilities is currently very high, first of all, for the gas capacity of the operating and prospective gas pipelines in the south of Russia to deliver gas to foreign and domestic consumers is still calculated based on the average annual sales.

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