Planning and utilisation of rock caverns and tunnels in Norway

This paper describes the extensive use of rock caverns and tunnels in Norway. Caverns are used for a variety of storage purposes such as storing of food, drinking water, oil and other liquid hydrocarbons, pressurised gas and air and industrial waste. Caverns are also used for industrial and municipal installations such as hydropower caverns and water and sewage treatment plants. A third main category of use in Norway involves dual purpose caverns used as civil defence shelters in war time and for entertainment and recreation (e.g. sports halls and swimming pools) in peace time. The intent of this paper is to discuss why these various underground space applications developed, to show the typical layout considerations for the different types of application and to introduce reference examples from the Norwegian experience.