The development of a general technique of analyzing well tests with variable flow rates is reported. The variable flow is approximated by a series of sequential straight line segments of arbitrary length and slope. (MHR)

Alternation of austenitization and austenite + ferrite two-phase decomposition treatment in a cyclic thermal treatment allows the achievement of ultra-fine grain size in steels containing 8-12% Ni. The grain refinement leads to a substantial improvement in cryogenic mechanical properties. The ductile-brittle transition temperature of a ferritic Fe-12Ni-0.25Ti alloy was suppressed to below liquid helium temperature by this grain refinement procedure; the transition temperature of commercial ''9Ni'' cryogenic steel was similarly reduced by combining the grain refinement with a final temper which introduces a small admixture of retained austenite.

The research reported here addresses the microstructural modification of ferritic Fe-Mn alloys to improve low temperature properties. The alloys Fe-12Mn-0.2Ti and Fe-8Mn-0.2Ti were specifically studied. In the as-quenched condition the alloys have ductile-brittle transition temperatures near -50/sup 0/C and room temperature respectively. The brittleness of Fe-12Mn is due to the intrusion of an intergranular fracture mode; that of Fe-8Mn is due to quasi-cleavage. The transition temperature of the 12Mn alloy may be suppressed by annealing in the two-phase (..cap alpha.. + ..gamma..) range to introduce a distribution of austenite or by grain refinement through deformation processing. In the latter case an excellent combination of strength and toughness is obtained at liquid nitrogen temperature. The 12Mn alloy may not be thermally processed to fine grain size because of the malevolent influence of the epsilon-martensite phase present in the as-quenched structure. No such phase is present in the 8Mn alloy. This alloy may be thermally processed to ultrafine grain size with a concommitant marked improvement in low temperature mechanical properties.

Two methods of dust-flux measurements are discussed which have been utilized to estimate aerosol plutonium deposition and resuspension. In previous studies the methods were found to be sufficiently detailed to permit parameterization of dust-flux to the erodibility of the soil, and a seventh-power dependency of dust-flux (or plutonium flux) to wind speed was observed in worst case conditions. The eddy-correlation method is technically more difficult, requires high-speed data acquisition, and requires an instrument response time better than one second, but the eddy-correlation method has been shown feasible with new fast-response sensors, and it is more useful in limited areas because it can be used as a probe. The flux-gradient method is limited by critical assumptions and is more bulky, but the method is more commonly used and accepted. The best approach is to use both methods simultaneously. It is suggested that several questions should be investigated by the methods, such as saltation stimulation of dust-flux, simultaneous suspension and deposition, foliar deposition and trapping, erodibility of crusted surfaces, and horizontally heterogeneous erodibility.

Resolvable interstitial Frank loops were grown in (110) foils of high purity copper in the HVEM. At 575/sup 0/K loops were grown at accelerating voltages as low as 275 kV, corresponding to an energy transfer of 12 eV. The considerable reduction in threshold energy from values measured at room temperature or below(e;g; 18 to 20 eV) is thought to be related to thermally activated escape from correlated recombination.

A numerical model is presented to simulate compaction of shallow groundwater systems. The model combines a general three-dimensional fluid flow field with a one-dimensional deformation of the porous medium. The governing equation is solved with an Integrated Finite Difference Method using a mixed explicit-implicit iteration scheme for advancing in the time domain. The model can handle heterogeneous flow regions with complex geometry, and with time dependent variation of material properties and boundary conditions. Five illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the applicability of the model to problems of relevance in studying land subsidence.

In this paper we discuss some design aspects of transuranic field studies. Some of the principal steps in the design of such studies are given and illustrated using examples. This is followed by a review of sampling designs that have been used at nuclear detonation and safety-shot sites on the Nevada Test Site and elsewhere for estimating spatial pattern and total amounts in soil. Some design aspects of ecosystemtype transuranic studies for estimating total amounts as well as movement of transuranics between ecosystem components are also discussed. Acceptance sampling using either attributes or measurements is considered as a possible approach for deciding whether to clean up a contaminated site. Three general guidelines for the design of efficient transuranic studies are presented.

Volume II of the report comprises copies of the slides from the talks presented at the second session of the National Waste Terminal Storage Program information meeting. This session was devoted to geologic studies. (LK)

None

The basis on which charges are calculated for use of computers at LBL is explained. CPU time, I/O requirements, and memory utilized are among the primary factors considered. (RWR)

Recent laser fusion experiments at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory have provided basic data concerning: laser beam propagation and absorption in high temperature plasmas, electron energy transport processes that transfer the absorbed laser energy to the high-density ablation region, the general fluid dynamic expansion and compression of the heated plasma, and the processes responsible for the production of 14-MeV neutrons during implosion experiments. Irradiation experiments were performed with Nd:YAG glass laser systems: the two-beam Janus (less than or equal to40 J/100 ps, approx.0.4 TW) and Argus (less than or equal to140 J, 35 ps, approx.4 TW), and the single beam Cyclops (less than or equal to70 J/100 ps, approx.0.7 TW). Two classes of targets have been used: glass microshells (approx.40 to 120 ..mu..m in diameter with approx.0.75-..mu..m-thick walls) filled with an equimolar deuterium-tritium mixture, and disks (approx.160 to 600 ..mu..m in diameter and approx. 10 ..mu..m thick) of several compositions. The targets were supported in vacuum (pressure less than or equal to10/sup -5/ Torr) by thin glass stalks. This paper reports on results related to the propagation, absorption, and scattering of laser light by both spherical and planar targets.

A neutron radiographic capability has been established at the Pantex ERDA Plant. A 3 MeV Van de Graaff accelerator is being used to make neutron radiographs in order to observe defects of explosives encased in metal containers and ''O'' ring integrity.

A numerical model is introduced which simulates the effects of fluid production as well as reinjection on the vertical deformation of water dominated geothermal reservoirs. This program, based on an Integrated Finite Difference technique and Terzaghi's one-dimensional consolidation model, computes the transport of heat and water through porous media, and resulting pore volume changes. Examples are presented to show the effects of reservoir heterogeneities on the compaction of these hot water systems, as well as the effects of different production-injection schemes. The use of isothermal models to simulate the deformation of non-isothermal systems was also investigated.

Volume I of the report comprises copies of the slides from the talks presented at the first session of the National Waste Terminal Storage Program information meeting. The agenda for the first day included an overview of the program plus presentations on such subjects as schedules and controls, facility projects, systems studies, regulatory affairs and technical support. (LK)

It is obvious from this study that elevated levels of gaseous air pollutants (CO, NO, NO/sub 2/, and SO/sub 2/) and particulate sulfur and nitrogen compounds are present in indoor environments with gas cooking and heating appliances. High levels of CO and NO/sub 2/ approach or exceed promulgated and proposed ambient air quality standards. Such findings certainly indicate a potential impact of combustion-generated indoor air pollution on human health; and if borne out by further work, they may ultimately have a large impact on the future design of epidemiological studies, on energy conservation strategies for buildings, and on the need for more stringent control of air pollution from indoor combustion sources.

During electron irradiation at low energies which results in a negligible damage rate in a pure material, lighter solute atoms are displaced, which may in turn indirectly displace solvent atoms by a focussed replacement collision or an interstitial diffusion jump. The extent to which lighter solute atoms contribute to the subthreshold damage rate has been examined by irradiating copper--aluminum alloys at high temperatures in a high voltage electron microscope. The damage rate, as measured by monitoring the growth rate of dislocation loops, at 300 kV was found to increase linearly with the aluminum concentration.

Separate abstracts were prepared for the 4 included papers. (MOW)

Separate abstracts were prepared for the 4 included papers. (MOW)

Some of the problems to be encountered in the large-scale use of dye lasers in an isotope separation plant are discussed. Why should dye lasers be employed. How can dye conversion efficiency be optimized. How can dye photochemical decomposition and hence running costs be minimized and how serious is this effect anyway. What are toxicity problems with the dye. These and similar issues are examined.

With the completion of the drilling of HGP-A and indications of extremely high bottom hole temperatures, the next major phase in the Hawaii Geothermal Project is a test and analysis program designed to determine the properties of the well, the fluid, and the reservoir. The program described in this paper was formulated as a first step to obtain this information; current results of the program are also described. 4 figs.

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate and discuss practical application of pressure buildup test theory in The Geysers steam reservoir, where the theory has been used to make qualitative interpretations about such things as fracture geometry and boundary conditions. Quantitative estimates of reservoir permeability are made on a routine basis. Quantitative estimation of porosity using pressure buildup analysis requires a very accurate knowledge of reservoir geometry, so this application must be approached with caution, since the reservoir is still being delineated by exploratory drilling. The pressure buildup can conveniently be divided up into three general periods for purposes of discussion: (1) short-time, (2) radial flow, and (3) late-time. During short-time, pressure buildup is dominated by either wellbore storage and skin effect, linear flow along a fracture plane, or a combination of these. After these short-time effects die out, pressure becomes a linear function of the logarithm of time. This semi-log straight period will be called radial flow for purposes of discussion in this paper. At late-time, pressure departs from semi-log straight in various ways depending upon boundary conditions. Any or all of the above three periods typical of pressure buildup behavior at wells in The Geysers reservoir may …

Geoheat is now being extracted for electrical power generation from natural hydrothermal resources in thermally active regions on the basis of free flowing boreholes. This type of operation may be termed as free geoheat production. The Reykjavik District Heating System is a low-temperature operation where large scale resource stimulation by borehole pumping is being applied. These free and stimulated production methods are based on the presence of natural fluid conducting openings in the resource formations and on a natural recharge of the withdrawn fluid. One can also envision forced geoheat extraction systems (FGES) with an artificial recharge of the heat extracting fluid which flows to some extent through artificial openings created by hydraulic fracturing or other pressurizing operations. For the operation of such systems to be successful, the openings have to provide adequate contact areas or contact volumes between the fluid and the rock such that a sufficient amount of heat can be extracted from the hot formations. In this paper, we will discuss a number of economical and physical aspects of FGES with emphasis on heat extraction from sheetlike natural fluid conductors in volcanic formations such as sufficiently open (conducting) fault zones, dikes and formation contacts. We envision applications …

This paper discusses an analysis of the heat transfer phenomena in the bench-scale experiments being carried out in the Stanford Geothermal Program. The basis of this analysis was a series of simplified mathematical models of heat and mass transport in fine-grained porous media. The analysis determined that the thermal capacity of the coreholder system caused heat losses from the core which were not steady at early and medium times. This phenomenon had not been recognized previously. This was in spite of the fact that various authors previously had attempted to match the experimental behavior under discussion with their sophisticated computer models. These computer models did not account for the transient nature of the heat losses from the core. 8 refs., 3 figs.

Two general types of information related to transit time are amenable to radon measurement experiments. Under steady flow conditions, changes in the radon source will result in changes in the radon concentration in produced geofluids. And under steady emanation conditions, changes in the flow regime will also result in changes in the radon concentration. Current interest has focused on the relationship between radon concentration and the flow regime in producing geothermal reservoirs. The paper describes actual and planned experiments using radon as a tracer at The Geysers and other reservoirs. 1 tab., 4 refs., 2 figs.