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A method and system for use in association with a subterranean reservoir containing reservoir material, for separating the reservoir material into components and for producing one or more of the reservoir material components at a surface production location. The reservoir material components include

A method and system for use in association with a subterranean reservoir containing reservoir material, for separating the reservoir material into components and for producing one or more of the reservoir material components at a surface production location. The reservoir material components include one or more liquid components and a solid component. The system includes a subterranean cavern located below the reservoir. A drain extends between the reservoir and the cavern for draining the reservoir material from the reservoir into the cavern so that the reservoir material may be collected and separated into the reservoir material components in the cavern. A production well extends between the cavern and the surface production location for producing one or more of the reservoir material components at the surface production location. Preferably, one or more of the liquid components are produced at the surface production location while retaining the solid component in the cavern.

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1. A system for use in association with a subterranean reservoir containing reservoir material, for separating the reservoir material into a plurality of reservoir material components and for producing one or more of the reservoir material components at a surface production location, the system comp

1. A system for use in association with a subterranean reservoir containing reservoir material, for separating the reservoir material into a plurality of reservoir material components and for producing one or more of the reservoir material components at a surface production location, the system comprising: (a) a subterranean cavern located entirely below the reservoir a spaced distance below the reservoir;(b) a drain comprising at least one drainage well extending between the reservoir and the cavern for draining the reservoir material from the reservoir into the cavern so that the reservoir material may be collected in the cavern and separated into the reservoir material components in the cavern; and(c) a production well extending between the cavern and the surface production location for producing one or more of the reservoir material components at the surface production location, wherein the production well is separate and distinct from the at least one drainage well, wherein the reservoir material components are comprised of one or more liquid components and a solid component, and wherein the production well is configured to produce one or more of the liquid components at the surface production location while retaining the solid component in the cavern. 2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drain is comprised of a plurality of drainage wells, wherein each of the drainage wells extends between the reservoir and the cavern, and wherein the production well is separate and distinct from each of the drainage wells. 3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cavern is comprised of a salt cavern. 4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid components are comprised of an oil component and wherein the production well is configured to produce the oil component at the surface production location. 5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the liquid components are further comprised of a water component and wherein the production well is further configured to produce the water component at the surface production location. 6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the production well is configured to produce separately the oil component and the water component at the surface production location. 7. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a solids removal system associated with the production well for removing a residual solid component from the liquid components before they are produced at the surface production location. 8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drain has a drain outlet for connecting the drain with the cavern, wherein the production well has a production well inlet for connecting the production well with the cavern, and wherein the production well inlet is located above the drain outlet. 9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drain has a drain outlet for connecting the drain with the cavern, wherein the drain is comprised of a plurality of drainage wells, wherein each of the drainage wells extends between the reservoir and the cavern, wherein the production well is separate and distinct from each of the drainage wells, and wherein the drain outlet is comprised of a plurality of drainage well outlets. 10. The system as claimed in 9 wherein each of the drainage wells extends between a surface drain location and the cavern, further comprising a gas collection system for collecting hydrocarbon gas contained within the drainage wells and the production well. 11. The system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a pressure regulating system associated with the gas collection system for regulating the pressure in the drainage wells and the production well. 12. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a flushing system for flushing the drainage wells. 13. A method for use in association with a subterranean reservoir containing reservoir material, the method comprising: (a) providing a subterranean cavern located entirely below the reservoir a spaced distance below the reservoir;(b) providing a drain comprising at least one drainage well extending between the reservoir and the cavern;(c) providing a production well extending between the cavern and a surface production location, wherein the production well is separate and distinct from the at least one drainage well;(d) draining the reservoir material through the drain from the reservoir into the cavern so that the reservoir material may be collected in the cavern;(e) separating the reservoir material iii the cavern into a plurality of reservoir material components; and(f) producing one or more of the reservoir material components at the surface production location through the production well, wherein the reservoir material components are comprised of one or more liquid components and a solid component, and wherein producing one or more of the reservoir material components is comprised of producing one or more of the liquid components at the surface production location while retaining the solid component in the cavern. 14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein providing the drain is comprised of providing a plurality of drainage wells, wherein each of the drainage wells extends between a surface drain location and the cavern, and wherein the production well is separate and distinct from each of the drainage wells. 15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the drainage wells and the production well contain hydrocarbon gas, further comprising collecting the hydrocarbon gas using a gas collection system. 16. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of the drainage wells has a reservoir interface pressure adjacent to the reservoir, further comprising managing the reservoir interface pressure in the drainage wells in order to facilitate draining of the reservoir material into the cavern. 17. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising flushing the drainage wells. 18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the liquid components are comprised of a water component, wherein the water component is produced at the surface production location, and wherein flushing the drainage wells is comprised of passing the produced water component through the drainage wells. 19. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising monitoring the drainage wells during draining of the reservoir material. 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein monitoring the drainage wells is comprised of measuring a flow of the reservoir material from each of the drainage wells into the cavern. 21. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein monitoring the drainage wells is comprised of measuring a temperature gradient and a pressure gradient along each of the drainage wells. 22. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the cavern is comprised of a salt cavern and wherein providing the cavern is comprised of forming the cavern by solution mining. 23. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the liquid components are comprised of an oil component and wherein producing one or more of the liquid components is comprised of producing the oil component at the surface production location. 24. The method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the liquid components are further comprised of a water component and wherein producing one or more of the liquid components is further comprised of producing the water component at the surface production location. 25. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein producing one or more of the liquid components is comprised of producing the oil component and the water component separately. 26. The method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the cavern contains a solid component layer, a water component layer and an oil component layer and wherein the reservoir material is drained into the cavern so that the reservoir material enters the cavern within the water component layer. 27. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising removing a residual solid component from the liquid components before they are produced at the surface production location. 28. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the liquid components are comprised of a water component, further comprising transferring the water component from the cavern to a subterranean disposal zone. 29. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the liquid components are comprised of a water component, further comprising transferring the water component from the cavern to the reservoir.