The modification and Application of Existing Empirical Formula for Predicting Water Inflow Considering the Space of Caverns

Abstract The prediction of water inflow in cavern is significant for underground engineering, as the inflow has important influence on construction and drainage system. At present, the empirical formulas for predicting inflow are usually based on a single cavern, but the influence of nearby caverns is not taken into account. In order to consider the influence of spacing and radius on water inflow, the inflow in an underground crude oil storage cavern is analyzed by numerical analysis in this paper. The results show that when the s/r < 20, the spacing has great influence on the inflow; when 2060, it almost has no effect on the inflow (s and r represent spacing between caverns and radius). Based on numerical analysis, empirical formulas for predicting water inflow are modified, and the new formula is proposed considering the influence of the spacing. Finally, field data show that the new formula is more suitable for predicting inflow.