Salt Caverns
Salt caverns are a proven medium for hydrocarbon storage and are constructed within massive geologic structures called salt domes or salt strata.
Basics of Salt Cavern Creation
All Salt caverns are man made and those used for natural gas storage are formed using a solution mining process. First, a well is drilled from the surface down into the salt formation. The well is equipped with multiple pipes for the injection of water into the cavern and for the return of brine from the cavern. Water is injected down a well bore into the salt formation dissolving the salt and creating a salt brine solution which is displaced to the surface through the well piping for sale or disposal. Each cavern thus created is designed and engineered according to its use. The size, shape, and operating limits are all part of the engineered and controlled development of a salt cavern for gas storage.
A Trusted Solution
There are over two thousand man made salt caverns in the United States and Canada used for the storage of hydrocarbons including crude oil, refined products, natural gas, LPG, and various chemical products. The United State's Strategic Petroleum Reserve is stored in salt caverns.
The Integration of Salt Cavern Gas Storage and LNG Receiving
Salt cavern creation, solution mining, cavern operation, maintenance, and gas metering are well documented disciplines within the energy storage business. However, salt cavern storage principles and cavern operations are relatively unknown to those in the LNG trade. As imports of LNG grow, salt cavern gas storage will be integrated into LNG operations to provide operational flexibility and gas marketing optimization.