Laboratory investigations of geotechnical properties of rock salt in Polish salt deposits

This paper presents the results of geomechanical and petrographic studies carried out on Permian rock salt sampled in different locations in Poland. Based on laboratory investigations, numerical simulations of gas storage cavern were conducted, applying seasonal operation scenario. The analysis included the influence of depth and creep properties of rock salt on cavern convergence. The difference between convergence of slow and fast-creeping salts is much smaller than the difference in respectively adopted creep laws. The observed influence of temperature is highest at the lowest tested depth. No distinct relationship between inclusion content and creep rate was found.