ABSTRACT
Geologic, geophysical and geomechanical investigations have been carried out relative to the design and constriction of the first natural gas storage caverns in Poland located in a salt deposit. Only a small part of the Zechstein saliferous formation, which spreads out under the most territory of Poland, is suitable for mining activity. Unique geologic structure of salt domes enables one to distinguish the “regional form” of the Middle-Poland Zechstein. The very complicated structure of diapir salt formation in Poland forces the storage cavern location on different depths even within one site. Thus each cavern has different parameters.
Laboratory tests of the mechanical properties have been performed for salt core samples from each cavern. The results obtained have been adapted for use in rock salt constitutive equations. For some cavern boreholes numerically calculated convergence has been found to fit the values of field measurements over a several month period. Applicability of laboratory tests and the correctness of an accepted numerical model has been considered in relation to potential mining practice.
