Eivind Grøv - Chief Scientist SINTEF/Professor II NTNU, Trondheim, Norway

During the last 30-40 years the concept of underground hydrocarbon storage has beenimplemented in Norway with great success. No negative influence on the environment has beenrecorded during these years of operation. This is now a proven concept and new storage cavernsare being built in connection with Norwegian terminals and processing plants. The concept evolvedfrom the growing hydropower development in the years of industrial growth in the post warNorway. The tunnelling industry established robust and effective tunnelling techniques which arenow being applied for underground hydrocarbon storage. The most specific aspects of this conceptare related to unlined caverns and the implementation of artificial groundwater to confine theproduct. In modern societies there are growing concerns related to the safety and security of ourinfrastructure system. In addition surface space is becoming a scarce resource placing limitationson urban expansion. The environment needs to be protected and the aesthetics considered.Underground storage of oil and gas has showed an extremely good record in all these importantaspects of the modern societies and is thus a popular method for such products

Underground Storage, hydrocarbon, unlined rock cavern