84. 



mechanically, that the overburden is being lifted. A far more 

 likely result is that vertical or high-angle fractures are formed. 



Might an oil pool have to be sacrificed at some place, some 

 time, to provide a disposal site? This is most unlikely if the 

 disposal fluids are made more dense than the displaced ground 

 -waters. In that case the wastes will remain in the lowest places, 

 whereas oil or gas, being lighter than water, are trapped in the 

 high places . 



Many unproductive structures are known already. 



In many fields operators are working on different strata at the 

 same time; it is conceivable that oil might be withdrawn from one 

 or more horizons while waste was being injected into deeper hori- 

 zons in the structure. 



- - Lunch recess - - 



Meeting reconvened at 2:00 p.m. 



Possible geologic structural basins in the United States. 



4.1 Inspection of "Tectonic Map of the United States" disclosed 

 that there are numerous large basins scattered across the 

 country, many of which are known to contain brine -bearing 

 strata at depth; some are not sufficiently well known to be 

 sure of the nature of the deep waters but they may be fresh- 

 water bearing. 



Basins of 

 Major brine-bearing basins uncertain potability 



Michigan Basin Denver Basin, Colo. 



various Appalachian synclines Powder River Basin, Wyo, 



Northeastern Louisiana Bighorn Basin, Wyo. 



Southcentral Oklahoma 



Illinois Basin 



various West Texas basins 



4.2 Coastal plain areas offer an alternative method: introduction 

 of wastes into brine-bearing permeable sedimentary forma- 

 tions that dip gently seaward, and pass beneath the continental 



