Jackson Prairie Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Natural gas storage |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Mary's Corner , United States |
Area served | Pacific Northwest, United States |
| Products | Natural gas storage |
| Owner | Puget Sound Energy, Avista, Northwest Pipeline GP of Williams Companies |
Jackson Prairie Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility, situated in Southwest Washington, is jointly owned by Puget Sound Energy, Avista, and the Northwest Pipeline GP of Williams Companies. With a total capacity of 47 billion cubic feet and a working volume of 25 billion cubic feet, it stands as the largest natural gas storage reservoir in the Pacific Northwest and ranks 14th nationwide in the United States.
Geology
The reservoir, positioned near Mary's Corner, Washington, is an aquifer contained within the sandstone layers of the Skookumchuck formation, located approximately between 1,000 and 3,000 feet below the surface.
Development and operations
Originally drilled in 1958 with an 8,000-foot well for gas extraction purposes, the site was found to be dry. Subsequently, it was converted into a gas storage facility, commencing injection activities in 1964. In 1965, following the drilling of a new borehole, a gas leak occurred, leading to the implementation of specialized fittings; no injuries or explosions resulted from this incident.
The stored natural gas is sourced from fields in Canada and the Rocky Mountains. By 2001, this facility accounted for 40% of Puget Sound Energy’s peak winter gas requirements. As reported in 2016, it operated a total of 104 wells, with 55 actively engaged in gas injection or withdrawal processes.
External links
- (Puget Sound Energy)
- Chapter 80.40 RCW – Underground Natural Gas Storage Act (1963)