Abstract: Considered as the best way to store oil, underground oil storage in rock caverns is in urgent need for the national petroleum reserve. Subject to the technical blockade of foreign countries, many large caverns in China are directly undergoing engineering practice with no technical standards or construction standards, posing a great deal of challenges. By sorting out literatures on water-sealed oil storage caverns, we discuss in this paper our theoretical and practical understandings of such key technologies as site selection of water-sealed oil storage caverns, stability of surrounding rock, permeability of surrounding rock, design and application of water curtain system, and seepage control. Current survey, design, and construction are mainly based on the continuum theory and methods, and understanding on rock fissure control is insufficient, resulting in the difficulties of constructing water-sealed caverns. In light of problems in current engineering practice, we suggest that fundamental research should be intensified, summaries and standard compiling should be strengthened, and admittance qualification of the industry should be furthered opened.

Key words: underground oil storage in rock caverns, site selection, surrounding rock stability, seepage properties, water curtain system, seepage control