​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Underground Gas Storage ​Data

​​​The Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) supervises underground gas storage projects to ensure the integrity of underground gas storage (UGS) wells, to prevent damage to public health and the environment, and to ensure that the reserves are not lost.  (Pub. Resources Code, §§ 3106, 3180, 3181, 3220 and 3403.5.) UGS projects involve the injection of natural gas into large underground reservoirs for storage before the gas is later withdrawn for sale to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and natural gas power plants.  UGS operators must develop a risk management plan for their storage project. These plans evaluate threats and hazards to safety, health and the environment associated with project operations, and must identify prevention and mitigation protocols that effectively address those threats and hazards. (Cal. Code of Regulations, tit. 14 (CCR), § 1726.3.) Below is a list of the underground gas storage projects in California with links to project data collected and maintained by CalGEM  in the course of regulation.​​  

  
  
  
  
  
  
Central Valley Gas Storage, LLCPrinceton GasColusaKione57403001Princeton Gas
Gill Ranch Storage, LLCGill Ranch GasMaderaPanoche26600002Coming Soon
Lodi Gas Storage, LLCKirby Hill GasSolanoDomengine35203001Coming Soon
Lodi Gas Storage, LLCKirby Hill GasSolanoWagenet35203002Coming Soon
Lodi Gas Storage, LLCLodi GasSan JoaquinDomengine40800002Coming Soon
Lodi Gas Storage, LLCLodi GasSan JoaquinMidland40800003Coming Soon
Pacific Gas & Electric CompanyLos Medanos GasContra CostaDomengine43003001Coming Soon
Pacific Gas & Electric CompanyMcDonald Island GasSan JoaquinMidland45200001Coming Soon
Pacific Gas & Electric CompanyPleasant Creek GasYoloPeters55600001Coming Soon
Southern California Gas CompanyAliso CanyonLos AngelesSesnon-Frew0100006Coming Soon
Southern California Gas CompanyHonor RanchoLos AngelesWayside30800001Coming Soon
Southern California Gas CompanyLa Goleta GasSanta BarbaraVaqueros36800001Coming Soon
Southern California Gas CompanyPlaya Del ReyLos AngelesPuente55403001Coming Soon
Wild Goose Storage, LLCWild Goose GasButteKione84000002Wild Goose Gas

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What is Underground Gas Storage?

​Natural gas is a colorless, odorless, gaseous hydrocarbon that is often stored in underground facilities under pressure. Underground natural gas storage in California is stored in depleted natural gas or oil fields that are close to consumption areas. Conversion of a field from production to storage may take advantage of existing wells, gathering systems, and pipeline connections. Principal operators of underground natural gas storage facilities in California are local distribution companies (utilities) and independent storage service providers. Operators of the underground storage facilities are not necessarily the owners of the natural gas held in storage. Most working gas held in storage facilities is held under lease with shippers, utilities, or end users who own the gas. Total natural gas storage capacity is the maximum volume of natural gas that can be stored in an underground facility in accordance with its design, which includes the physical characteristics of the reservoir, installed equipment, and operating procedures particular to the facility as approved by state and federal agencies. Base or cushion gas is the volume of natural gas intended as a permanent inventory in the storage reservoir to maintain adequate pressure and deliverability rates throughout the withdrawal process. Working gas is the volume of natural gas in the reservoir above the base or cushion gas level that is available to the marketplace. Deliverability is generally expressed as the measure of the amount of natural gas that can be delivered (withdrawn) from a storage facility on a daily basis, usually expressed in terms of millions of cubic feet of gas per day (MMcf/d). Injection capacity (or rate) is the complement of the deliverability or withdrawal rate, the amount of natural gas that can be injected into a facility on a daily basis. ​​