| Introduction: Describe the programme of building SPR. Body: Explain difference between salt caverns and rock caverns Conclusion: Conclude with why SPR is necessary. |
Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) programs are massive stores of crude oil which act as strategic crude oil reserves to mitigate major major supply disruptions in the global supply chain. Strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) could assist assure energy security and availability amid global supply shocks and other emergencies since India, the third-largest consumer of crude, depends on imports for more than 85% of its needs. The country has three strategic oil storage facilities at Mangaluru and Padur in Karnataka and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. India’s strategic oil reserves come under the Petroleum Ministry’s special purpose vehicle Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve (ISPRL).
What is the difference between salt cavern reserves and rock caverns?
- Cost: Salt-based caverns are considered cheaper and less labour intensive than cost intensive.
- Development Process: Salt caverns are created through the process of solution mining, which entails pumping water into geological formations containing significant salt deposits to dissolve the salt. This method differs from the excavation method used to create underground rock caverns. Compared to creating excavated rock caverns, the procedure is easier, quicker, and less expensive in the development of salt caverns.
- Storage: According to scientific reports, oil storage facilities built in salt caverns are also naturally well-sealed and designed for quick injection and extraction of oil. Because of this, they represent a more appealing alternative to rock caverns. The salt inside the caverns develops an impermeable barrier against liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons making them a better option than rock caverns.
- Types of fuel: Salt-based caverns are more widely used to store liquid fuels and natural gas. They are widely considered as the storage medium for storing compressed air and hydrogen.
- Technical know-how: The requisite knowledge to build salt-based caverns is inadequate in India as compared to rock-based caverns. However, this gap can be bridged by cooperating with developed nations like the USA, and Germany.
- Location: Rajasthan in India is seen as a potential site to develop salt cavern-based storage facilities.
Conclusion:
SPR is necessary to build buffer stock and ensure energy security during supply shocks. India needs to increase its SPR capacity and develop more strategic reserves through Public Private Partnerships to reduce government spending and exploit the commercial potential of the reserves.
