Energy International is a leader in catalyst and process development as it relates to Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) technology. Through this activity, a concept evolved for a new technique for capturing the fuel value in the associated natural gas contained in crude oil. In the new concept, the dissolved natural gas would be processed via F-T technology to produce light hydrocarbons that would then, in one manifestation of this concept, be redissolved in the crude oil to produce a lighter crude than the original, containing all of the natural gas, but with the vapor pressure of the crude lowered to an acceptable level via the conversion process. This technique would be of particular interest in those instances where the alternative methods of collections and utilizing the associated natural gas were expensive. A study of the application of this technology was undertaken by EI with support from the DOE.

Tuff is of interest for use as an isolation medium for high heat producing wastes because it provides highly sorptive minerals and suitable thermomechanical properties. Also, tuff is widespread in areas that offer long and deep groundwater flow paths. The occurrence and geologic/hydrologic setting of tuff are discussed. The properties of the rock are discussed and compared with other isolation media. The favorable and unfavorable aspects are presented. Also, unresolved issues are discussed along with the investigative program for addressing these issues.

The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory has an unirradiated enriched uranium reprocessing facility. Various types of solutions are generated in this facility, including distillates and raffinates containing ppm of uranium and concentrated solutions with up to 400 grams U/t. In addition to uranyl nitrate and HNO{sub 3}, the solutions may also contain zirconium, niobium, fluoride, and small amounts of many metals. A uranium solution assay system (USAS) has been installed to allow accurate and more timely process control, accountability, and criticality data to be obtained. The USAS assays are made by a variety of techniques that depend upon state-of-the-art high-resolution Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectroscopy integrated with an interactive, user-oriented computer software package. Tight control of the system`s performance is maintained by constantly monitoring the USAS status. Daily measurement control sequences are required, and the user is forced by the software to perform these sequences. Routine assays require 400 or 1000 seconds for a precision of 0.5% over the concentration range of 5--400 g/t. A comparison of the USAS precision and accuracy with that obtained by traditional destructive analytical chemistry techniques (colorimetric and volumetric) is presented.

Aqueous/solid distribution coefficients have been measured for {sup 137}Cs, {sup 85}Sr, {sup 99}Tc, {sup 152}Eu, {sup 144}Ce, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 243}Am and {sup 244}Cm on powdered argillite and hornfels obtained from the Nevada Test Site. The fluid phases included a groundwater simulant and deionized water preequilibrated with powdered argillite. Distribution coefficients for lanthanides and actinides are generally high and Eleana shale was found to effectively sorb technetium.

Numerical calculations for a near surface heater experiment in argillite conducted at the Nevada Test Site were performed using the finite element code ADINA assuming a two-dimensional axisymmetric geometry. The existence and extent of the region of tensional opening of joints surrounding the heater, predicted by the mechanical model, were confirmed by posttest borehole inspection, permeability measurements, and drillback. Exrapolation of near surface heater model to repository depths reveals the necessity for prior knowledge of the mechanical properties and state of stress in-situ. The extent of the joint opening zone, for example, is not altered by changes in the elastic modulus at the near surface, but is significantly decreased beyond certain depths depending upon the in-situ elastic modulus. Results of these calculations are presented. To further define the behavior at depth, and place bounds on the joint opening zone, far-field calculations were performed for a generic repository in argillite. Both spent fuel and high level waste heat sources were considered at different burial densities and depths. Results of a parametric study are presented in which the mechanical properties, in-situ stresses, and waste heat sources were varied.

Adsorption of several nuclides (Sr, Tc, Cs, Ba, Ce, Eu) on tuff, monzonite, and argillite was studied experimentally. 3 tables. (DLC)

Statistical methodology has been applied to the investigation of the regional hydrologic systems of a large area encompassing the Nevada Test Site (NTS) as a part of the overall evaluation of the NTS for deep geologic disposal of nuclear waste. Statistical techniques including Latin hypercube sampling were used to perform a sensitivity analysis on a two-dimensional finite-element code of 16 geohydrologic zones used to model the regional ground-water flow system. The Latin hypercube sample has been modified to include correlations between corresponding variables from zone to zone. From the results of sensitivity analysis it was found that: (1) the ranking of the relative importance of input variables between locations within the same geohydrologic zone were similar, but not identical; and (2) inclusion of a correlation structure for input variables had a significant effect on the ranking of their relative importance. The significance of these results is discussed with respect to the hydrology of the region.

Siliceous tuff in southern Nevada occurs in a complex and locally active geological environment. Regional thrust faulting, Basin and Range faulting, and present-day seismicity complicate exploration and site characterization activities. The inherent variability of tuff and the complexity of caldera complexes also complicate siting efforts, but may serve to enhance long-term containment. Time--space trends of silicic volcanism are moderately well-established, while those of recent basaltic volcanism are not. At present, the final consequences for repository siting of the geologic complexities described in this paper are not known. Evidence from laboratory cation exchange measurements indicate that tuff and tuffaceous alluvium can serve as effective natural barriers to migration of radionuclides. This fact, coupled with multiple hydrologic barriers and long flow paths, as in the vicinity of the Nevada Test Site, might well result in tuff being a suitable medium for the safe long-term geologic disposal of nuclear wastes. Preliminary thermal modeling indicates the strong influence of varying assumptions regarding in situ fluid pressures and geothermal heat flux on acceptable initial areal power loadings.

A preliminary evaluation of the in-situ thermomechanical response of argillite to heating was obtained from a near-surface heater test in the Eleana Formation, at the Nevada Test Site. The experiment consisted of a 3.8 kW, 3-m long x 0.3-m diameter electrical heater in a central hole surrounded by peripheral holes containing instrumentation to measure temperature, gas pressures, and vertical displacement. A thermal model of the experiment agreed well with experimental results; a comparison of measured and predicted temperatures indicates that some nonmodeled vertical transport of water and water vapor occurred near the heater, especially at early times. A mechanical model indicated that contraction of expandable clays in the argillite produced a region 1.5 to 2.0 m in radius, in which opening of preexisting joints occurred as a result of volumetric contraction. Results of thermal and mechanical modeling, laboratory property measurements, experimental temperature measurements, and post-test observations are all self-consistent and provide preliminary information on the in situ response of argillaceous rocks to the emplacement of heat-producing nuclear waste. 9 figures, 2 tables.

Two near-surface heater experiments were performed in argillaceous rocks for the purpose of determining the suitability of this rock type for the disposal of heat producing nuclear waste. Site instrumentation included provisions for monitoring both the thermal and mechanical response of the formation. The mechanical behavior of argillaceous rocks was found to be complex and illustrates the necessity of incorporating the dehydration behavior of clays into existing models. The thermal response also reflected the effects of water. Even in the presence of considerable ground water, however, conduction remains the principal method of heat transfer, and computer codes using this assumption give a realistic picture of the in-situ formation behavior.

The thermal response of layered tuffs in Yucca Mountain at NTS to radwaste emplacement at 711 m depth (Bullfrog tuff) was analyzed. Three in-situ boiling criteria were examined. No boiling is predicted for any burial depth with power densities up to 150 kW/acre. Allowable powerdensities are plotted vs depth below 711 m for both HLW and spent fuels. (DLC)

Recent emphasis on research in geologic isolation of nuclear wastes and geoenergy resource development has created a renewed demand for engineering thermophysical property data for rocks and other geologic materials at elevated pressures and temperatures. In contrast to fabricated engineering materials, with properties which can be specified, rocks used in engineering design are complex, naturally occurring materials having properties which must be characterized, rather than specified, for engineering studies. Much difficulty in measuring, reporting, and using thermophysical properties of rocks results from (1) rock inhomogeneity and anisotropy on both microscopic and macroscopic scales; (2) inclusion of pore fluids, such as water; and (3) measurement of laboratory properties under conditions quite different from those of in situ material. Because measurements on in situ materials are scarce, many analyses must depend on extrapolated values of uncertain accuracy. A survey of thermophysical property data available for geologic thermal transport studies indicates that caution must be taken to effectively match data abstracted from the literature with project objectives.

Article discusses the difficulties faced by Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole refugees who left Indian Territory during the Civil War and the relief their leaders attempted to secure them as delegates to the Confederate government.

Article describes the events that precipitated the Creek War of 1836 and the conflicts that occurred between Creeks and white settlers in Alabama.

For the Record section including the minutes of the quarterly board meeting of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society that was held on July 26, 1979. It also includes a gift list for the second quarter of 1979 and lists of new annual and new life members of the OHS.

Article discusses the history of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge in El Reno, Oklahoma, and the preservation of the historical building beginning in the early 1900s.

Notes and Documents column including a document about the preservation ordinances enacted by Guthrie, Oklahoma City, and Hammon, an announcement about the reprint of "The Historic Preservation Movement in Oklahoma," and an introduction to Oklahoma's early military forts and posts.

Article lists the historic sites acquired by the Oklahoma Historical Society by county and provides details about their construction and historical significance.

Article explores the history of Oklahoma's military from its beginnings as the Oklahoma Territorial Militia to its evolution into the Oklahoma National Guard. Fred A. Daugherty and Pendleton Woods discuss the Guard's participation in the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The use of a silver-zeolite halogen adsorber placed in series with a hydrogen catalytic recombiner and a cryogenic noble gas adsorber assembly constitutes a waste gas processing system (WGPS) capable of handling hydrogen and fission product gases following a Loss-of-Coolant Experiment (LOCE). This paper describes: the types and quantities of gases expected to be found at the facility after a failed-fuel LOCE; the purpose of the WGPS; and the general configuration and expected decontamination factors associated with the LOFT WGPS.

The FFTF reactor is described. Procedures and equipment used to protect personnel from potential hazards of oxygen deficient environments are described.

This report contains the text and slides used for the review talk on tandem mirror theory presented at the meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, A.P.S., Boston, MA, November 12-16, 1979. Topics covered include classical confinement, equilibria, MHD- and micro-stability, radial transport, and thermal barriers.

Advanced imaging methods have been evaluated for the purpose of constructing images of objects from ultrasonic data. Feasibility of imaging surfaces which are off-normal to the sound beam has been established. Laboratory results are presented which show a complete image of a typical core component. Using the previous system developed for under sodium viewing (USV), only normal surfaces of this object could be imaged. Using advanced methods, surfaces up to 60 degrees off-normal have been imaged. Details of equipment and procedures used for this image construction are described. Additional work on high temperature transducers, electronics, and signal analysis is required in order to adapt the off-normal viewing process described here to an eventual USV application.

In support of this effort, an average of 55 samples with approximately 4 analyses per sample comes into the ICPP analytical laboratory each day. Information concerning these samples, the 60 people handling the samples, and the 90 methods of running samples is registered, processed, and accessed daily. A manual paper system was found to be inadequate for an efficient, accurate, interacting network; thus, the need for a more spontaneous system emanated. The Analytical Laboratory Computer System is designed to automate and streamline the generation and storage of this data and to increase the credibility of sample results. A 256 K byte Data General Eclipse C/300, a 62 K byte Hewlett-Packard 9845A, and 8 Tetronix 4023 terminals are being used to achieve this goal. The Eclipse is used for data input-output and the calculation and bias correction of laboratory results; the 9845 computer is used for data manipulation for quality control. Utilization of the data provides some powerful tools in such areas as quality control, data classification, and analyst/method performance evaluation. The simplicity and clarity of operating the system as well as the complexities of design and implementation are also discussed.