Possible Uses of Synthetic Gypsum in Salt-Cavern Filling

Abstract

Large quantities of synthetic gypsum are obtained from the wet flue-gas treatment process during coal burning. Synthetic gypsum is a full-value by-product that can be processed in various industries. However, overproduction causes that considerable quantities of synthetic gypsum are rather stockpiled on surface storage dumps. This paper presents an optional use of synthetic gypsum to prepare mixes based on fully saturated brine designed for salt-cavern filling. Such an operation allows, on the one hand, to recover full-value brine collected in a cavern, and, on the other hand, to reduce the quantities of gypsum dumped on land surface. In addition, filling of salt caverns with gypsum mixes is geomechanically more beneficial than cavern filling with brine. That method is also important for environmental protection reasons.