Determination of actual dissolution rates from some rock properties in construction of deep salt cavern for natural gas storage

Available energy resources should be efficiently used to meet the global energy demand. The storage of energy resources, especially as natural gas, is important to balance extreme fluctuations in demand and supply of energy. Underground caverns in deep salt domes are used as storage for natural gas due to the low permeability and appropriate creep conditions of salt. Several projects are being carried out in Turkey to store imported natural gas. The design and construction parameters of these deep salt caverns should be determined to provide reliable and durable storage. Dissolution rate, which is an important parameter affecting the design and construction of underground salt caverns, is generally measured from core samples in laboratory settings. However, results do not match actual underground dissolution rates. The aim of this study was to predict actual dissolution rates from some rock properties. The physical and mechanical salt properties were determined from core samples obtained from different depths of drilled wells opened for salt caverns. The relationships between salt properties and actual dissolution rates were statistically analyzed. A statistical model was developed to predict actual dissolution rates using uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths, Poisson's ratio, and cohesion and experimental vertical dissolution rates. The model is reliable for predicting actual dissolution rates in construction of underground gas storage caverns in salt domes. Predicted dissolution rates can be used in the design of underground gas storage caverns in salt domes.