Cavern construction and storage caverns
Liquid storage ranges from a few tens of thousands up to 120 million m³. Underground storage can be achieved almost anywhere on earth taking into account the special geological underground conditions.
Underground storage means the containerless underground storage of gases and liquids in cavities in the earth’s crust where the storage medium is in direct contact with the rock surrounding the storage facility space. It allows gases and liquids to be kept in reserve economically. They balance continuous production with fluctuating consumption over seasons, days, and hours.
Disruptions in production, delivery, and distribution process can also be bridged. Among other things, the high level of cost-effectiveness is due to the low material costs yet high variability in terms of capacity, performance, and medium. Underground storage is particularly environmentally friendly because of the minimal amount of space required and the protection of the landscape.
Depending on regional geology and the type and volume of stored media, cavity systems are among the most widely used underground storage methods.
Rock salt caverns can be used for the storage of small to large quantities of gaseous or liquid media. For gas storage, they are particularly suitable as peak load storage facilities because they allow high withdrawal rates. Storage caverns are created by leaching out cavities in underground salt formations. The most important requirements for this type of storage facility are:
- sufficient salt layer thickness
- salt with the lowest possible proportion of insoluble (clay, anhydrite, carbonate) or easily soluble (potassium salts) components
- sufficient fresh water reserves for the brine process
- possibilities of brine use or disposal
