Gas Storage

In Denmark, gas consumption varies throughout the year, topping during winter time. On a cold winter day, gas consumption may reach about 30–33 million Nm³ on a daily basis.  The maximum delivery of natural gas from the fields in the North Sea amounts to about 22–24 million Nm³ on a daily basis. In order to manage this difference, gas storage facilities are necessary. During the summer, when consumption is low, natural gas is pumped down into the storage facilities, and during the winter the gas stores are used to cover consumer requirements. 

In addition, the storage facilities function as emergency supplies in the event of an interruption in supplies from the Danish North Sea gas fields, or if there is a gas pipeline rupture in the transmission network. The storage facilities are dimensioned so as to handle supplies of natural gas to the uninterruptible gas market, which for instance comprises domestic heating, for a period of about 60 days. This is the estimated time it takes to repair a gas supply rupture in the North Sea. 

One facility is located at Stenlille on Zealand, where gas is stored in porous sandstone layers at a depth of around 1,500 m. This facility is owned by DONG Energy. Approximately 1.529 billion Nm³ of natural gas is injected into the facility at Stenlille, of which approximately 588 million Nm³ can be utilized (working gas). 

The other gas storage facility is situated at Lille Torup in northern Jutland. At this facility, the gas is stored in seven large subsoil caverns that have been created by the flushing out of a salt diapir. The caverns, which are situated at depths of 1,000–1,700 m, are 200–300 m high and 40–60 m in diameter. This facility is owned by Energinet.dk. At the Lille Torup facility, approximately 700 million Nm³ can be stored in the seven caverns, of which approximately 440 million Nm³ gas is utilized (working gas). 

In 2011, the approval for the existing Danish gas storage facilities was extended for 25 years until 8^th of July 2037.