The Application of Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) Approach to Prioritization underground crude oil storage methods

Crude oil as the main row material in industries is one of the most strategic and valuable materials in the world. In one hand, after World Wars and the issues they caused for oil marketing, many of North American, European and Eastern Asian countries began to store crude oil till in emergency cases they can protect their economy and industries against probable damages. On the other hand, even in the absence of war and any international threat against Iran oil marketing it still facing its own challenges. In the low crude oil demand periods, there should be enough stores for storing crude oil to prevent any problem in producing and storing of it in the country. Since various methods such as aboveground tanks, floating, in-ground and underground oil storage has been experienced. Large storage capacity, high safety and low operational and maintenance costs of underground storage in comparison with the other methods have been caused to be more concerned in many countries. Underground crude oil storage methods including hard rock caverns, abandonment mines and salt caverns have been widely used. Choosing the appropriate storage method with respect to country conditions has positive political and economic consequences. In this study, technical, environmental, economical, defensive criteria effective on crude oil storing has been investigated, and also by taking advantages of internal and external expert’s viewpoints, the appropriate methods of underground storing has been prioritized. Due to effects of various criteria on choosing the suitable storage methods, application of Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods would be important. In this study with application of Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and with respect to our country situations, the appropriate underground crude oil storage of methods has been prioritized.