Strategic storage of crude oil in unlined underground rock caverns below the groundwater table is being constructed for the first time in India. The projects are being implemented by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd., (ISPRL) a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created by the Government of India. The article deals with Indian experience of working on underground civil works contracts with design consultants as well as contractors.
Apart from discussing the basic principles of storage, salient design and construction aspects, it describes the implementation philosophy of the projects including a description of the awarding of contracts through a relatively new online method of procuring services called Reverse Auction.
A unique combination of government agencies, private foreign and Indian consultants, private foreign and Indian contractors are collaborating on the projects and therefore an analysis has been made of the interactive experience. It is recommended that foreign agencies and Indian agencies including government agencies should learn from the feedback and improve their professional potential.