EUROCK ’92, International ISRM Symposium on Rock Characterization, Chester, United Kingdom, 14–17 September 1992
Authors: M. P. Hardy and R. R. Goodrich (AAI), and H. Brenner (Vulcan Chemicals Company)
Stability assessment of large solution mining cavities near the surface was required to develop guidelines for termination of production. The stability of existing irregular-shaped cavity clusters required definition of cavity shape, characterization of salt and shale strength and mechanical properties, and analysis of stress and deformation. The most significant parameters controlling stability were the inter-cavern and the cavern fluid pressure.