Solution-Mined Cavern Storage

PB Energy Storage Services has gained industry recognition for the engineering, design and construction services it provides for the development of underground storage caverns in bedded and domal salt formations.  Tapping the vast storage potential of these formations demands unique expertise in solution mining technology, a PB Energy Storage Services specialty

We have provided solution mining services to the industry since 1950, having constructed over 150 solution-mined caverns for product storage, evaluated over 350 salt domes and developed more storage capacity than any other company in the U.S.  We constructed or converted 65 solution-mined storage caverns for the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve with a combined storage capacity of 750 million barrels.   PB Energy Storage Services has evaluated or performed other solution mining services for the majority of solution-mined caverns in the U.S.

Product Storage Flow Diagram

Link to a list of storage wells and salt caverns developed by PB Energy Storage Services.

Mineral Recovery

Solution mining recovery of halite has long been used to provide feedstock for chlorine/caustic plants. In fact, much of the storage capacity of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created by converting former feedstock caverns to oil storage service.  Not only was PB Energy Storage Services involved in these conversions, but we have designed and constructed many new feedstock caverns in both domal and bedded salt formations.

PB Energy Storage Services has developed a state-of-the-art technology in solution-mining mineral recovery of halite, potash, nahcolite, trona and other evaporites.   Solution mining of complex ores, using tailored brines to obtain desired selective recovery, is optimized by a combination of laboratory testing and computer simulation.   Our unique undercutting method allows successful recovery from a wide variety of ore geometries and thicknesses.  In special cases, combining the undercutting method with horizontal drilling can optimize ore recovery.

Solution mining for economic mineral recovery is often guided by a long-term goal of creating commercial storage capacity.

Leaching Process Flow Diagram

Link to a list of solution mining wells developed by PB Energy Storage Services.

Solution Mining Wellhead

Natural Gas Storage Flow Diagram