Techno-economic review on storage of petroleum products in abandoned underground salt mines: A case study on underground salt mines of Sardareh region, Garmsar, Iran

Abstract

During the past few decades, along with creation of new needs, large spaces of underground mines (especially abandoned mines) have found new applications, e.g., storage of petroleum products. Utilization of empty spaces of these mines as hydrocarbons storage facilities decreases the costs of construction of underground spaces, which can be very expensive and costly. On the other hand, crude oil and other hydrocarbons nowadays are one of the most important factors affecting political and a major part of the domestic economy is achieved through them. Thus, in this paper, a feasibility study has been performed on the application of underground salt mines near the city of Garmsar on the southern edge of Alborz mountains and on the north of the central desert of Iran. Through studies of documentaries, field observations and considering technical, geometrical and defensive criterion, the most suitable abandoned underground mine for reutilization as a storage facility is selected and presented.