Monitoring Epe

The underground of Gronau and the surrounding area is a challenging area even for geologists: salt has been intensively mined here for almost 50 years. This has created large cavities, known as caverns, at depths of between 1,000m and 1,500m. Natural gas, crude oil or helium is now stored in most of them. An important economic factor for the entire region. Right next door is the Amtsvenn nature reserve, a moorland landscape covering almost 9 square kilometers.

This special location has repeatedly led to tensions for years - not only in the geological structures themselves, but also between the residents, the city and the various operating companies. The main reason for this is ground movement, which in the long term can lead to subsidence in the area and thus to damage to buildings and changes in the water balance. But what is actually caused by mining? What is natural? This is the starting point for a new, unprecedented research cooperation around the Epe cavern field, which has now been concluded. It involves the town of Gronau, the citizens' initiative Kavernenfeld Epe e.V. (BIK), EFTAS Fernerkundung Technologietransfer GmbH and the FZN.

 © Benjamin Haske/THGA

Together, the stakeholders want to develop a solution to determine where the ground movements in the cavern field originate. Satellite data from the EU's Copernicus space program will be used as well as local information and the knowledge of citizens. The results will be published and discussed at regular information events and on the project website - in line with the aim of transparency.