Energy storage in salt caverns: the role of InSAR monitoring

Natural gas is predicted to play an integral part in the energy transition. Its role in facilitating a progressive shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is highlighted by its lower carbon emissions when compared to other fossil fuels. However, challenges persist given the uneven global distribution of natural gas and significant seasonal consumption fluctuations. In this context, Underground Gas Storage (UGS) offers a robust solution for establishing national strategic reserves, ensuring a stable and reliable supply of natural gas. Nonetheless, the cyclical nature of withdrawals and injections creates alterations in the effective stress regime of reservoirs, resulting in observable surface deformation. This necessitates the formulation of operational protocols for environmental monitoring, risk mitigation, and reservoir optimisation. Interferometric Satellite Aperture Radar (InSAR) data emerges as an invaluable tool, offering site-specific insights with millimetric precision, overcoming the spatial limitations of insitu instruments. This study emphasises the extensive potential of InSAR data, contributing to the development of general guidelines for UGS monitoring projects in salt caverns. It not only enables the storage facility operators to understand the deformation phenomena, but also contributes to enhanced withdrawal and injection rates. Consequently, it promotes a safer and more efficient operational framework.