CONVERSION OF THE ABANDONED POTASH MINE WILHELMINE-CARLSGLUCK IN HULSEN-VERDEN, WEST-GERMANY, TO CRUDE-OIL STORAGE

The abandoned potash mine ″Wilhelmine-Carlsgluck″ represents the first mine in the Federal Republic of Germany to be used for crude oil storage. To date this project is unique in West Germany even though its storage capacity of approximately half a million cubic meters (about three million barrels) is small compared with huge cavern storage fields. The geologic, mining and economic aspects which led to the selection of this mine for crude storage are discussed. Special attention is paid to problems involved with filling and draining the pore space of the back-full. The crude oil transport pipeline and access pipe installations in both mine shafts are discussed in detail; in addition, safety monitoring, and control systems are discussed.