Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Geological Site Characterization Report, Bryan Mound Salt Dome: Section I, Section II, and Section III: Fid-Bau Portal

Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Geological Site Characterization Report, Bryan Mound Salt Dome: Section I, Section II, and Section III

R. G. Hogan

Abstract

Section I provides a review of cavern stability, integrity and usability for both existing and planned cavern at Bryan Mound. The early analyses were done using typical material properties. Future analyses will be done utilizing the information reported in Sections II and III of this report. As these analyses are completed, results and recommendations will be published for the existing and planned caverns. Section II of this report is a comprehensive geological site characterization done by D'Appolonia Consulting Engineers, Inc. for Sandia National Laboratories. The geological characterization was to be performed in two phases. In the first phase, a comprehensive study would be prepared from existing data, and in the second phase, field programs would be used to gather specific information as needed. Section II represents the results of Phase 1 only. We do not believe a Phase 2 geological field program is necessary to support development and operations of the existing caverns, the 12 expansion caverns, or the four Phase 3 caverns. Section III evaluates the properties of salt from the Bryan Mound salt dome. The evaluation includes review of core, sidewall samples, drill cuttings, borehole logs, and the drilling reports to determine typical material properties and define anomalies. The typical quasi-static properties of salt are consistent with published values for salt from many worldwide locations. Creep rates for the Bryan Mound salt are significantly lower than expected. The typical impurities in this dome are sylvite-halite and anhydrite-halite layers with near vertical dip. Small quantities of anhydrite are also dispersed within the salt grains. The salt dome is suitable for the long term storage for petroleum in caverns which can be constructed using normal leaching techniques. (ERA citation 06:001964)