ABSTRACT
Perhaps the most influential geological factor for a solution-mined cavern near the edge of a salt dome is the delineation of the dome boundary. The dome boundary resolution is often a function of the data quality and distribution associated with various boundary location methods. Under exceptional circumstances, the boundary may be determined to within a few 10’s of feet or less (Looff et al. 2003); however, accurately determining the dome boundary can be very challenging because of the geologic complexity associated with faulting, steep dips, and overhangs, among others (Looff et al. 2003). These geological complexities, coupled with limitations on data quality, may limit the resolution of the dome boundary to within a few hundred feet, which is typical of most Gulf Coast salt domes (Looff et al. 2003).
