Engineering for deep sea drilling for scientific purposes. Final report

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6064034

Since its inception in 1968, the Deep Sea Drilling Program sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) has expanded our knowledge in the earth sciences by verifying the plate tectonic theory of the earth's crustal dynamics. Now, NSF is considering whether to extend the program's scope and duration. Under a plan proposed by NSF, the program would seek to recover sample cores from geological formations located as much as 20,000 feet (6 kilometers) below the ocean floor in water up to 13,000 feet (4 kilometers) deep. The demands imposed by such ocean depths, drilling penetration, and personnel and environmental safeguards exceed today's operational experience as well as the capability of available systems and equipment. Using current technology, the seabed can be drilled to as much as 6000 feet (1.8 kilometers). Still, no insurmountable technical barriers are foreseen that should prevent NSF from achieving its drilling objectives. In doing this, the cost of developing the equipment to meet the requirements of the proposed drilling is likely to amount to $84 million.

• Research Organization: National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6064034
• Report Number(s): AD-A-092605; NSF-C-310; ON: DE81903750
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
42 ENGINEERING
423000* -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
DEPTH
DEPTH 3-6 KM
DIMENSIONS
DRILLING
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
OFFSHORE DRILLING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SEA BED
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER