Gas Storage Caverns in the Rock Salt Deposit of Epe.

The first step in the design of the Epe natural gas storage cavities was the analysis of the geological data gathered during the drilling and mining operations. The salt wall thickness, the separation distances between the cavity and the cavity diameters, depths and pressures were defined on the basis of rock mechanical studies. Refitting some of the wells for gas injection and withdrawal involved a number of problems because the well were originally designed for salt production only. The operating experience gained since 1976 confirms the predictions made in the design stages that withdrawal rates above 200,000 m**3/hr/cavity were feasible. The PVT behavior of the gas stored was in agreement with the results of a thermodynamic study made for the project.