1. A computer-implemented method for selecting an optimal delete-safe compression algorithm from among two or more compression algorithms for use on a data block comprising a plurality of delta encoded data values, the method comprising the steps of: computing a maximum number of data values eliminated by compressing the data block with each of the two or more compression algorithms; for the plurality of delta encoded data values to be compressed, computing a minimum size of the plurality of delta encoded data values before compression thereof; computing a delete-safe threshold value based on the minimum size of the plurality of delta encoded data values; and enabling delete safe compression of the data block by selecting the compression algorithm from the two or more compression algorithms for which the maximum number of data values eliminated does not exceed the delete-safe threshold value, wherein delete safe compression is a property in which deletion of a delta encoded data value from a compressed data block does not cause an expansion of storage space of the compressed data block.