Stress and Creep Analysis of Salt Caverns

Stress and creep analysis of salt caverns are performed using ABAQUS FEA software to assess the quantitative effects of different design parameters that would be expected in an oil storage cavern situated within rock salt formation. The studies examine the overall performance of salt caverns by evaluating the displacement field, stress field, creep displacement, volume shrinkage, ground subsidence, and damage zone surrounding the cavern. Two commonly used cavern shapes, such as cylindrical and spherical of varying dimensions, are considered for the analysis. Approach for estimating displacement and stress during the construction period of a salt cavern of varying shape and size are presented.