Glomar Challenger rides out heavy storm at sea

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1969 · Offshore; (United States)

OSTI ID:5378319

Allinder, W F

Glomar Challenger, Global Marine, Inc.'s scientific drill ship, ably demonstrated that a dynamically positioned drilling ship, with modern weather forecasting and excellent seamanship, can operate on the high seas without fear of tropical storms. The drilling ship met Typhoon ''Viola'' while coring on Site 55 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. After the drilling crew had spudded in by 11:25 P.M., a total of 640 ft of core material had been recovered from 660 ft of coring by noon of the following day. Wind speeds had increased to a steady 30 to 35 mph, with gusts to 50 mph. The ship's crew was experiencing difficulties holding position, because of the bow thrusters actually coming out of the water, and also due to a partial acoustic signal loss. A satellite photograph received earlier showed a typhoon-like storm. It was decided to pull completely out of the hole and secure for a storm. The captain elected to sail directly into the eye of the storm. This decision proved correct in every respect.

• Research Organization: Texaco Inc
• OSTI ID: 5378319
• Journal Information: Offshore; (United States), Journal Name: Offshore; (United States) Vol. 29:11; ISSN OFSHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
DISASTERS
NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OPERATION
SHIPS
STORMS