Evaluation of stresses around an underground reservoir of liquid fuels in unrecognised mining and geological conditions

In the research project the stress distribution in the vicinity of the future version of an underground fuel storage in Góra, Poland was determined. The stress distribution was established by FEM simulations of a 3D model of a viscous rock mass. As the structure of the salt dome in Góra is not fully recognized yet, several simplifications in model geometry and internal structure were made and discussed in the paper. Computer simulations for 20 years period reveal that the stress intensity tends to increase in nearly linear function of depth in caverns area and decrease with time. Results of modelling are graphed as horizontal and vertical cross-sections showing the stress distribution round the caverns filled with brine or stored liquid carbohydrates. There are also the profiles of stress intensity and effort ratio on the cavern walls and in the pillars between the caverns.