A review of salt tectonics in Romania's Transylvanian Basin and implications for energy transition

Abstract

Salt, pivotal in societal evolution and vital in scientific and economic domains, notably in chemical and hydrocarbon industries, gains relevance amid the climate crisis. As the shift from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources becomes imperative, salt deposits can advance the energy transition, notably by large-scale hydrogen storage in solution-mined caverns. Other promising applications include carbon capture utilisation and storage and geothermal energy. Due to its potential role in energy transition and the required novel geotechnical solutions, research focusing on salt's contribution remains an emerging field. The Transylvanian Basin (Romania), provides opportunities for comprehensive multiscale observations, including surface and subsurface data, offering insights into salt deformation. While studies on salt tectonics in the basin exist, it is generally understudied and the focus on energy transition applications is sparse. This paper aims to review the current state of salt tectonics in the Transylvanian Basin, emphasising internal deformation complexities, impurity distributions, and potential implications for energy transition industries. By shedding light on this significant yet underexplored aspect, this work seeks to stimulate further research interest and prompt, comprehensive investigations into salt-related energy transition applications.