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Why are salt dome cavities suitable for storing liquefied propane gas?
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salt dome
Figure 1: Interrelationships of salt structures (see text)
Salt dome cavities are highly suitable for the storage of liquefied propane gas primarily due to their impermeability.1
These storage "bottles" are created by drilling into a salt formation and forming a cavity through brine solution mining. Because rock salt is a plastic material that can flow under pressure and temperature over long periods, it creates a stable, sealed environment that prevents the leakage of stored substances. This same property of impermeability has also led to the consideration of these cavities as potential sites for the disposal of radioactive wastes.123