Developing add-on technology for remotely operated seabed drills to meet the scientific demands of IODP Expedition 357 Atlantis Massif Serpentinization and Life Dave Smith IODP ESO Operations Manager British Geological Survey Edinburgh djsm@bgs.ac.uk IODP-ESO: www.eso.ecord.org/
Outline International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and Mission Specific Platforms Description of Exp 357 Atlantis Massif Serpentinization and Life Seabed Drills add-on Developments Future
IODP Family of 3 Operators USA Japan Europe No Riser Drillship Riser Drillship Mission Specific Platforms
Arctic ACEX Tahiti New Jersey Atlantis Massif Mid-Atlantic Ridge 2015 Chicxulub, Mexico 2016 Great Barrier Reef Baltic Sea
IODP Expedition 364 Chicxulub Impact Crater 2016 From bare platform in Louisiana to fully functioning international scientific research coring platform in Mexico
Developments to meet scientific demands Remotely Operated Drilling/Coring Marum MeBo70 2000m water depth BGS RD2 Seabed Rockdrill 4000m water depth Drilling Platform RRS James Cook
MeBo70 Drill RD2 Drill Back deck of RRS James Cook 2 x remotely operated seabed drills 200T of equipment 2015
IODP Expedition 357 Atlantis Massif October 2015 Southampton (mobilisation) Min. 30 days at drill sites
IODP Expedition 357 Atlantis Massif October 2015 Hole Strategy Water Depth 720m 1770m
Shopping List of Scientific Requirements Essential Desirable Other / legacy / ambitious High % core recovery Minimise contamination (incl. time on seafloor) Ability to assess contamination Downhole logging: Optical imaging Acoustic imaging Spectral gamma ray Measure bottom water (CTD) Seal borehole with the facility to extract fluid samples in the future (e.g. by ROV) Downhole in-situ fluid sampling during or shortly after drilling Semi real-time review of borehole images Downhole logging: Formation Resistivity Deep UV spectroscopy (DEBI-t) CORK instruments: Reduction potential (Eh) ph Fluid temperature H2 probe In-situ fluid pressure Downhole microbial incubation experiments (possibly FLOCS-type system) Downhole fluid and microbiological sampling using a GeoMicrobe Sled connected to the wellhead. Fluid resistivity Other IODP minimum measurements (downhole): Density Porosity Sonic Formation temperature Microresistivity/FMS Others? Notes: Ticked items are already available, developed, or are in development for sea bed drills Underlined items are IODP minimum measurements
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) Developments 1. Real time borehole fluid sampling 2. Tracer injection - microbiology 3. Downhole logging tools 4. Downhole packer and cap (plug) Criteria - General Each development had to drill independent Some of the hurdles Different control systems, voltages, sizes of rods/barrels, size of borehole, connectors, method of drilling, robotic arms/grippers, available space for mounting add-ons, etc.
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 1. Real time borehole fluid sampling Water samples: Collect pre drill site base line data and post drill data 2 x 4 litre water samplers Real Time Sensors: CTD Dissolved oxygen (DO) Methane (CH4) ph/redox Pumped system Criteria Independent subsystem Compact does not interfere with drilling system Interface with 2 difference drill power and communication systems Lightweight payload Maintainable
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 1. Real time borehole fluid sampling
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 1. Real time borehole fluid sampling Water samples: Collect pre drill site base line data and post drill data 3 x 4 litre water samplers with pump Real Time Sensors: CTD Dissolved oxygen (DO) Methane (CH4) ph/redox (WD 1200m max) Pumped system
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 2. Tracer injection system for microbiological contamination testing Criteria To inject a tracer fluid Perfluoro(methylcyclohexane) into the borehole whilst coring Tracer calculation: For 20 l/min flush rate, require 0.02 ml/min Tracer Tracer: filled infusion packs
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 3. Downhole logging tools Dual Induction Magnetic Sus OAG Optical, Acoustic, Spectral Gamma Criteria Operate with both drills Memory Manual switch on Build on existing knowledge
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 3. Downhole logging tools (memory) Dual Induction Magnetic Sus OAG Optical, Acoustic, Spectral Gamma Battery Ultrasonic Transducers Camera Infrared communications and signaling window Electronics Gamma- Detector LEDs Acrylic Dome with Conical Mirror
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 4. Downhole packer and cap (Plug) Criteria To be able cap/seal a borehole Unknown thickness of sediment/hard rock Long term observatories Allow ROV access to borehole Deployed by either drill Use common parts Seabed Sediment Seabed Sediment Rockhead Rockhead Packer Borehole
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 4. Downhole packer and cap (Plug) Drill differences: different drilling mechanisms hole diameters rod lengths rod threads Seabed Sediment Rockhead Operation operate after 60 hours of drilling Packer Borehole
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 (2015) 4. Downhole packer and cap (Plug) Seabed Sediment Rockhead Packer Borehole
Seabed drills developments MeBo70 & RD2 Future Add-on scientific tools can provide new and additional data Consolidate on existing developments
What s Next: Antarctic 2017/2018 Water depths: 500m -1100m Penetration below seafloor: 50m
What s Next: Arctic 2018 - Lomonosov Ridge Water depths: 700m -1400m Penetration below seafloor: 300m-800m