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Finite element study of working level separation at the Weeks Island salt dome

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7073537

The Weeks Island salt dome has a former two-level room-and-pillar salt mine which is now filled with oil as part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). This study is a determination of the safe separation of the SPR level from a postulated outburst beneath it. A series of finite element structural analyses model the mine excavation, filling, outburst occurrence, and subsequent time until the year 2045 for various postulated separation distances. It is found that if the outburst is 100 ft or more from the SPR then there is no discernable effect on the SPR. If the outburst is only 50 ft below the SPR, then there is a discernable but nonthreatening effect. 21 references, 21 figures, 2 tables.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
7073537
Report Number(s):
SAND-84-1021; ON: DE84015756
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English