Ricky Belda (Transocean Assistant Driller, Philippines), Mel Pepito (Transocean Roughneck, Philippines), and Manuel Cabusa (Transocean Floorman, Philippines) take a break while the hydraulic connections to the screen that Ricky has his hand on are made down below the rig floor in the moonpool.
Ray Corn (Cabett Services, USA), Rueben Francisco (Transocean Roughneck, Philippines), and Madardo Gudillos (Transocean Roughneck, Philippines) work to prepare the ACORK hydraulic umbilical cable for termination into the screen casing (shiny pipe in background).
The ACORK top (or "head") containing the pressure sensors, valves, data loggers, and sampling ports is attached to the 10-3/4 inch casing on the rig floor.
Jacinto Tabat (Transocean Welder, Philippines) helps to make sure various drilling parts stay together.
Gary Austin (ACORK engineer, USA), Tim McCown (Transocean Senior Toolpusher, USA), Scott Pederson (Transocean Operations Manager, Canada), Tom Pettigrew (ODP Operations Engineer), Wayne Lambert (Transocean Coring Technician, USA), and Mark Robinson (Transocean Coring Technician, USA) oversee the ACORK head being attached on the rig floor.
Takao Sawa (Engineer, Japan) and Masataka Kinoshita (ACORK scientist, Japan) assemble the data logger for the thermistor string that will be placed inside the inner bore of the ACORK.
On most ODP legs there is a kite flying contest on the helideck—a nice diversion after seven weeks at sea. Contestants build their kites from materials found on the ship.
Another view of the kite flying contest on the helideck.
Eion Watson (Transocean Chief Mechanic, UK), Jorn Verschoor (Transocean 3rd Engineer, Holland), Tony Richardos (Transocean Assistant Mechanic, Philippines), and Jim Fyfe (Transocean Chief Electrician, UK) attempt to get their kite aloft. Note that Jorn carries on a family tradition— his father was the chief engineer on the ship up until Leg 194!
Fidel Rosalejos (Transocean Roustabout, Philippines), Steve Kitteridge (Schlumberger Logging Engineer, US), Rey Prospero (Transocean Motorman, Philippines), Earl Davis (ACORK Scientist, Canada), and Keir Becker (Co-chief Scientist, US) watch the kites fly.
More kite flying observers. From left to right: Earl Davis (ACORK Scientist, Canada), Jim Fyfe (Transocean Chief Electrician, UK), Jack O'Connor (Transocean Chief Engineer, USA), Shannon Center (ODP Photographer), Jeanne Marie Noel (Ship's Doctor, France), and Pieter Pretorius (ODP Electronics Specialist, South Africa).
Every contest needs its judges. Kite Flying Contest Judges Jack O'Connor (Transocean Chief Engineer, USA), Hitoshi Mikada (Co-chief Scientist, Japan), and Shannon Center (ODP Photographer) determine the winners.
Tyler Baird (ODP Physical Properties lab specialist, US) and Mads Radsted (ODP Paleomagnetics lab specialist, Denmark) attempt to get their aggie kite into the air—unsuccessfully!