India’s largest underground LPG storage cavern is being constructed at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) import facility in Mangalore with a storage capacity of 80,000 metric tons. The facility, built within granitic gneiss rock, is designed to operate on the principle of hydraulic containment.
The cavern is located 141 meters below mean sea level, with an operational shaft extending to 156 meters. The depth ensures that the hydrostatic pressure of water keeps the LPG securely contained. The construction process involved the drill-and-blast method, requiring extensive geological assessments and engineering precision.
The storage facility consists of multiple components, including a 1.1 km-long access tunnel for debris removal, an upper and lower water curtain system with 13 km of vertical and inclined boreholes, main storage galleries measuring 18 meters in width and 21 meters in height, and an operation shaft with a 6.5-meter diameter extending to 164.5 meters, designed to accommodate submersible LPG pumps, fill lines, and instrumentation.
The underground storage is strategically positioned to enhance LPG distribution across India. The Mangalore LPG Import Facility (MLIF) will receive LPG imports through the New Mangalore Port and dispatch supplies to the Mangalore LPG Bottling Plant, road and rail tankers, and cross-country pipelines extending to Mysore, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
The project is expected to play a key role in ensuring a stable LPG supply to southern and central India. The Mangalore LPG cavern project represents a significant milestone for HPCL and India’s energy infrastructure, enhancing storage capabilities and logistical efficiency.
