Patent ID: 8128317

Claim:
A method of increasing the storage capacity of a natural gas storage cavern, the method comprising: using sensors in communication with gaseous natural gas in a natural gas storage cavern to monitor at least one of pressure or temperature in the natural gas storage cavern; using a cryogenic high pressure pump to add selected quantities of liquefied natural gas to gaseous natural gas in the natural gas storage cavern based upon feedback from the sensors to maintain at least one of the pressure or the temperature of the gaseous natural gas within the natural gas storage cavern at a pre-selected level pursuant to a control strategy in which a reduction of the temperature and associated pressure of the gaseous natural gas in the natural gas storage cavern is effected for the express purpose of increasing the storage capacity of the natural gas storage cavern, while maintaining the natural gas in a gaseous state and the temperature within the thermo-elastic limits of the natural gas storage cavern.