Strategic Petroleum Reserve Uses Caverns

The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve does not keep its emergency crude oil in surface tanks but in 60 massive underground salt caverns spread across four sites in Texas and Louisiana. A typical cavern is about 200 feet wide and 2,500 feet tall, and one is large enough to fit Chicago's Willis Tower inside with room to spare. The caverns were carved into salt formations using water and can hold between 6 million and 37 million barrels of oil each. The Department of Energy says underground salt storage can cost up to 10 times less than above-ground tanks while also providing strong natural protection against leaks.

Previous Fact Next Fact