Disposal of tritiated water in a gas well is reported. The gas production, water disposal, and sampling history of the well are briefly reviewed. Blowdown testing of the well is reported. (LEW)

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Under sponsorship of the Division of Applied Technology of AEC, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory is investigating the possibilities and problems of extracting energy from geothermal reservoirs which do not spontaneously yield useful amounts of steam or hot water. The system for accomplishing this which is being developed first is a pressurized-water circulation loop intended for use in relatively impermeable hot rock. It will consist of two holes connected through the hot rock by a very large hydraulic fracture and connected at the surface through the primary heat exchanger of an energy utilization system. Preliminary experiments in a hole 2576 ft (0.7852 km) deep, extending about 470 ft (143 m) into the Precambrian basement rock underlying the Jemez Plateau of north-central New Mexico, revealed no unexpected difficulties in drilling or hydraulically fracturing such rock at a temperature of approximately 100 C, and demonstrated a permeability low enough so that it appeared probable that pressurized water could be contained by the basement rock. Similar experiments are in progress in a second hole, now 6701 ft (2.043 km) deep, about 1.5 miles (2.4km ) south of the first one. Here the bottomhole temperature is about 146 C, and again no unexpected difficulty was …

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A section of notes on geothermal exploration using the resistivity method precedes the main body of the paper. Field data from the Broadlands Area of New Zealand, Java, and the Imperial Valley, California are included. The reconnaissance resistivity survey recently completed in the East Mesa Area confirmed that a broad zone of low resistivities at depth extends through the area in a NNW direction. The interpretation of the resistivity data and the location of the resistivity lows at depth is much less definite in the Imperial Valley than it is in other areas of geothermal exploration. This is due to the extremely low background level of resistivities. The low resistivities in the Imperial Valley are due to the high porosity of the sediments and the high salinity of the solutions contained within the rock. The expected decrease in resistivity due to elevated temperature is much more difficult to detect in this environment. Edges of the zones of low resistivities have been delineated in almost all directions. (JGB)

The key experimental and analytical studies which have led to our present understanding of the mechanisms of ductile fracture are reviewed. It is concluded that insufficient progress has been made in the quantitative description of ductile separation mechanisms on a microscale to allow the realistic prediction of fracture toughness from material properties and microstructure. An experimental study of ductile fracture is underway which has the aim of determining the growth rate of voids in known plastic deformation fields as a function of triaxiality of stress and material work-hardening. Novel specimens of particularly well characterized microstructure are utilized.

Phase 0 of a project for Experimental Geothermal Research Facilities focuses on identification of a representative liquid-dominated geothermal reservoir of moderate temperature and salinity, preliminary engineering design of an appropriate energy conversion system, identification of critical technology, and planning for implementation of experimental facilities. The objectives included development of liaison with the industrial sector, to ensure responsiveness to their views in facility requirements and planning, and incorporation of environmental and socioeconomic factors. The overall project, of which the six-month Phase 0 is reported herein, is phased in accordance with RANN guidelines. This Phase 0 report covers problem definition and systems requirements. Phase 1 will involve design of the experimental facility, and testing of components. Phase 2 will comprise detailed design and construction of an experimental geothermal electrical powerplant at East Mesa, Imperial County, California. Facilities will incorporate capability for research in component, system, and materials technology and a nominal 10 MWe experimental, binary cycle, power generating plant.

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The report on the 2 kW(e) reactor-organic Rankine system was drafted. This report details the design parameters of a minimum weight, 2 kW(e) reactor-organic Rankine system. The system is designed for 5 years unattended life in space. The reactor produces 16.2 kW of thermal power with a NaK outlet temperature of 800/sup 0/F and a 200/sup 0/F ..delta..T. The reactor contains 19 fuel elements, 1.25'' in diameter by 10'' long, hydrided to an N/sub H/ of 6.35. The terrestrial applications effort was oriented towards the establishment of the feasibility of utilizing the zirconium hydride reactor technology in a subsea application for supplying electrical power to deep water, and other environmentally severe, oil well installations. The overall system concept is shown. The power system is composed of three basic modules (i.e., a reactor module, a generator module, and a heat rejection system) mounted on a barge. The barge is then towed to the installation site and submerged to mate with a previously installed seafloor foundation. An assembly/disassembly sequence was drafted detailing the steps required to assemble the reactor module and to disassemble it after 4 years of operations.

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The Pacific Hake, Merluccius productus (Ayers) was used to monitor the waters off Puget Sound and the West Coast of the US for zinc(Zn), cadmium(Cd), mercury(Hg) and {sup 65}Zn. The Columbia River is not the source of Zn, Cd or Hg contamination, but is the source of {sup 65}Zn, with the concentration in the Hake reflecting the position of the Columbia River plume. Zn and Cd accumulation in the Hake were fit to the equation Y=B{sub 1}+B{sub 2}e{sup B}{sub 3}X where Y is the concentration of the element and X is the length or weight of the fish. Biological attributes were assigned to the other parameters as follows: B{sub 1} is the asymptotic value for Zn or Cd at chemical maturity; B{sub 2} is the location of the curve with respect to the length or weight of the fish; and B{sub 3} is a constant pertaining to the rate of change of Zn or Cd. Although Zn, Cd and Hg are all Group 2B elements, only the concentrations of Zn and Cd were correlated for all locations; Hg concentrations varied as a function of location. Zn and Cd concentrations increase with fish size and approach an asymptotic value at maturity, …

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Studies conducted over the last few years on the observations and measurements made in the field on 1 June 1970 are assembled and interpreted in terms of the modelling of convective shower systems and their scavenging patterns. The modelling of cloud microphysics in relation to precipitation generation and scavenging as well as convective system dynamics is also discussed. It is suggested that parameterizations of the microphysical processes and the fine-scale dynamics will probably have to be tested for adequacy against nearly full scale computations in three dimensions using time-dependent equations with variable boundary conditions. Steps toward this long term objective are planned.

This specification establishes the requirements and procedures (using epoxy adhesive) for the installation and removal of the dynamic inflatable test seal for the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), In-Vessel Handling Machine (IVHM) Reactor Refueling Plug (RRP).