Field venting tests were conducted in alluvial sands residing between
the water table and a clay layer. Flow rate, barometric pressure, and
well-pressure data were recorded using pressure transmitters and a per
sonal computer. Data was logged as frequently as every second during p
eriods of rapid change in pressure. Tests were conducted at various ex
traction rates. The data from several tests were analyzed concurrently
by normalizing the well pressures with respect to extraction rate. Th
e normalized pressures vary logarithmically with time and fall on one
Line allowing a single match of the Jacob approximation to all tests.
Though the Jacob approximation was originally developed for hydraulic
pump test analysis, it is now commonly used for venting test analysis.
Only recently, however, has it been used to analyze several transient
tests simultaneously. For the field venting tests conducted in the al
luvial sands, the air permeability and effective porosity determined f
rom the concurrent analysis are 8.2 X 10(-7) cm(2) and 20%, respective
ly.