Investigation of effect of rock salt properties on dissolution rate in underground salt caverns for natural gas storage in Tuz Golu basin

Current energy resources must be used efficiently to meet the energy demand in the world. Storage of energy resources is important for balancing the peak increase in energy demand or peak decrease in energy supply. Several projects are being carried out in our country to store the natural gas which is commonly imported from supplier countries. In this study, firstly correlations between physical and mechanical properties of core samples taken from boreholes of underground gas storage project in Tuz Gölü Basin and dissolution rates were evaluated together. Best subsets regression and multiple regression were used for evaluation. Afterwards, correlations between uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength, poisson ratio, cohesion and experimental vertical dissolution rate and dissolution rate were investigated. At the end of the study, a regression equation was constituted to predict dissolution rate with these parameters. It was determined that constituted equation was statistically valid and significant. Dissolution rates occurring during construction of the underground gas storage caverns in salt domes would be predicted with high accuracy via this equation. Predicted dissolution rates would be applicable for design of gas storage caverns in salt dome.