OPERATIONS

Drilling at the National Guard Training Base, Sea Girt, New Jersey (40°07´12.698''N, 74°01´58.25''W; elevation = 9.8 ft [3.05 m]; Point Pleasant quadrangle, Monmouth County) began in September 2003. Drilling operations were superintended by Gene Cobbs, chief driller, USGS Eastern Earth Surface Processes Team (EESPT; Don Queen, Drilling Coordinator). Glenn Berwick and Jeff Grey III were the assistant drillers. On 21 September, the EESPT drillers arrived onsite and began rigging up and connecting electrical and water hookups. On 23 September, James Browning moved equipment onsite and set up a field laboratory in a trailer. A digital zoom camera (6.5–19.5 mm lens; 4 megapixel resolution), computer, and photography stand were set up to photograph 2-ft (0.61-m) core segments. Camera default settings (including flash) were used following procedures established at Ocean View, New Jersey (Miller et al., 2001).

All cores were measured in feet and tenths of feet, all depths are given in feet and meters below land surface, and all operations are described in feet and meters. We continued to adopt ODP convention of top-justifying depths for intervals with incomplete recovery for all field notes and photos.

The first core was obtained on 24 September 2003 using a Christensen 94-mm (HQ) system. For unconsolidated sands, an extended ("snout") shoe was used to contact the sample 1.5–2.5 in ahead of the bit; core diameter is 2.4 in with a rock shoe and 2.1 in with the snout shoe. Approximately 1.0 ft (0.30 m) of large-diameter (10 in) surface casing was set. The large diameter was designed to catch cuttings from reaming a 5-in hole for casing targeted at 220 ft (67.06 m).

Core recovery was poor at the beginning of the day on 24 September. In the afternoon, the drillers pulled the drill string out of the ground and cleaned the bit, improving recovery. Overall we recovered 58.5 ft (17.83 m) from 90 ft (27.43 m) drilled (recovery = 65.7%).

On the first core run (90–100 ft; 27.43–30.48 m) on 25 September, the cable clamp broke and drilling was suspended for a short time while a replacement was obtained. Drilling resumed and there was 7.4 ft (2.26 m) of recovery from 100 to 110 ft (30.48 to 33.53 m). On the next run from 110 to 120 ft (33.53 to 36.58 m), only 1.7 ft (0.52 m) was recovered. The interval recovered was a loose, coarse to very coarse sand. This sand kept caving in, requiring the drillers to spend time flushing the hole. In the afternoon, we penetrated a firm sandy clay which cored quickly. Overall we recovered 51.55 ft (15.71 m) from 80 ft drilled (24.38 m; recovery = 64.4%).

Coring went well on 26 September. We recovered 100% on all runs from 170 to 210 ft (51.82 to 64.01 m). Drilling was stopped to log the hole prior to setting casing to prevent caving of surficial and Kirkwood sands. The rods were pulled, and the DGS attempted open-hole logging. The hole was successfully logged using the DGS Century Corporation gamma-electric multitool and winch to 185 ft (56.39 m), beyond which the tool could not pass because of an obstruction. The multitool obtained a gamma ray log and suite of electric logs including spontaneous potential (SP), short normal resistivity (16N), long normal resistivity (64N), point resistivity, and lateral resistivity.

The hole was reamed with a in tricone bit to 143 ft (43.59 m) on 27 September. The alternator on the drill truck blew and we used the alternator on the pick-up truck to power the deck motor. The casing would not go below 113 ft (34.44 m) in the lower Kirkwood sand, ending a tough day onsite. Operations were delayed by rain on the morning of 28 September. The drillers rereamed the hole to 143 ft (43.59 m) and successfully inserted 5-in (12.7 cm) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) casing to 143 ft (43.59 m). We reran the rods to 200 ft (60.96 m) and conditioned the hole to resume coring operations on the next day.

Coring resumed at 210 ft (64.01 m) on 29 September. We ran 5 ft (1.52 m) on the first core (210–215 ft; 64.01–65.53 m), recovering 2.4 ft (0.73 m) of solid core and 0.3 ft (9 cm) of caved pebbles and charcoal/lignite that was pushed into the core during casing. Smooth coring through glauconitic clay on Runs 28 (215–220 ft; 65.53–67.06 m) and 29 (220–230 ft; 67.06–70.10 m) allowed excellent recovery. Run 30 (230–240 ft; 70.10–73.15 m) had 3 ft (0.91 m) of slurry at the top that was discarded. This run became blocked 6.5 ft (1.98 m) into the run by hard yellow clay, though we recovered the lithologic contact that was penetrated. Runs 31 (240–250 ft; 73.15–76.20 m), 32 (250–260 ft; 76.20–79.25 m), 33 (260–270 ft; 79.25–82.30 m), 34 (270–280 ft; 82.3–85.34 m), and 35 (280–290 ft; 85.34–88.39 m) had good recovery using the modified rock shoe in these semi-indurated clays and increasingly porcellanitic rock beds. There was only 20% recovery, however, in the last run of the day from 290 to 300 ft (88.39 to 91.44 m). The day ended at 300 ft (91.44 m) with 72.05 ft (21.96 m) recovered from 90 ft drilled (27.43 m; recovery = 72.1%).

On 30 September, the first core (300–310 ft; 91.44–94.49 m) recovered 7.7 ft (2.35 m) out of a 10 ft run (3.05 m). There was a porcellanite at the base of the run. There was 7.8 ft (2.38 m) of recovery in the next 10-ft (3.05 m) run to 320 ft (97.54 m), and 7.6 ft (2.32 m) of recovery from 320 to 330 ft (97.54 to 100.58 m). There was 96% recovery from 330 to 340 ft (100.58 to 103.63 m). From 340 to 350 ft (103.63 to 106.58 m), there was 75% recovery. Recovery was perfect from 350 to 360 ft (106.58 to 109.73 m), whereas from 360 to 370 ft (109.73 to 112.78 m) 6.65 ft (2.03 m) was recovered, and 7.15 ft (2.18 m) was recovered from 370 to 380 ft (112.78 to 115.82 m). From 380 to 390 ft (115.82 to 118.87 m) there was 70% recovery. By the end of the day, we recovered 80.8 ft (24.63 m) from 100 ft drilled (30.48 m; recovery = 80.8%).

On 1 October 2003, drilling was delayed to replace the alternator on the rig and we planned our approach to the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary. The K/T boundary at the Department of Geothermal Energy (DGE) test well 2-78 gamma ray log (~300 ft [91.44 m] east) is associated with a gamma ray log kick at 493 ft (150.27 m). The contacts in the DGE well appear to be offset from the contacts in the Sea Girt core by ~2–4 ft (0.61–1.22 m) based on rough comparison of our DGS gamma ray log with the DGE gamma ray log and core depths of the base of the Shark River glauconites and base of the Manasquan Formation glauconites in our cores vs. DGE log depths. We thus targeted the K/T boundary on 2 October. To free up the drillers for mid-November seismic refraction studies of the Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure, we planned for extended operations beginning on 25 October. We discussed 24 hr/day coring or a modified 16 hr/day coring operation (0600–2200 hr), turning the rods from 2200 to 0600 hr to avoid problems with local neighbors.

The first cores on 1 October (Runs 47–48; 400–420 ft; 121.92–128.02 m) obtained full recovery in Vincentown Formation silts. Run 49 (420–430 ft; 128.02–131.06 m) recovered 7.3 ft (2.23 m) in silty clay, whereas Runs 50 (430–440 ft; 131.06–134.11 m) and 51 (440–450 ft; 134.11–137.16 m) had full recovery. The day ended at 450 ft (137.16 m) with 47.9 ft (14.60 m) recovered from 50 ft drilled (15.24 m; recovery = 95.8%).

On 2 October, we recovered 7.2 ft (2.19 m) on Run 52 (450–460 ft; 137.16–140.21 m). Drilling stopped while a section of the cable was replaced and then resumed with Runs 53 (460–465 ft [140.21–141.73 m]; 4.35 ft [1.33 m] recovery), 54 (465–470 ft [141.73–143.26 m]; 5 ft [1.52 m] recovery), and 55 (470–475 ft [143.26–144.78 m], 4.3 ft [1.31 m] recovery). We ran 10 ft (3.05 m) from 475 to 485 ft (144.78 to 147.83 m) with perfect recovery and then shifted to a 5-ft (1.52- m) run (485–490 ft [147.83–149.35 m], 3.5 ft [1.07 m] recovery) and then a 10-ft (3.05 m) run (490–500 ft; 149.35–152.40 m) in an attempt to get the K/T boundary within a single core run. We only obtained 5.2 ft (1.58 m) of recovery on this run, but did not penetrate the Cretaceous (Danian Zone P1 at 495.2 ft [150.94 m]) and decided to drill one additional 5-ft (1.52 m) run (Run 59; 500–505 ft; 152.40–153.92 m). The day ended at 505 ft (153.92 m) with 44.15 ft (13.46 m) recovered from 55 ft drilled (16.76 m; recovery = 80%).

On 3 October, the first core recovered 100% from 505 to 510 ft (153.92 to 155.45 m). The core slipped out of the shoe but was fortunately retrieved by the driller. The K/P boundary was recovered at 509.65 ft (155.34 m). On the next run from 510 to 520 ft (155.45 to 158.70 m), 9.9 ft (3.02 m) was recovered. There was a vertical fracture in the core. From 520 to 530 ft (158.50 to 161.545 m), 10.1 ft (3.08 m) was recovered, and 7.6 ft (2.32 m) was recovered from 530 to 540 ft (161.54 to 164.59 m). In the run from 540 to 550 ft (164.54 to 167.59 m), 10.3 ft (3.14 m) was recovered. Recovery in the clayey Navesink Formation was excellent, but recovery fell off in the Mount Laurel Formation sands. The day ended at 575 ft (175.26 m) with 63.9 ft (19.48 m) recovered from 70 ft drilled (21.34 m; recovery = 91.3%).

On 4 October, Don Queen, driller, and Casey McKinney, driller's assistant, from the Central Regional Branch (Denver), Geologic Division, of the Earth Services Processes (ESP) team, took over coring duties. We recovered 2.9 ft (0.88 m) on the first 5-ft (1.52-m) run of the day. On the next run, from 580 to 590 ft (176.78 to 179.83 m), 10.2 ft (3.11 m) was recovered. Recovery was again over 100%, with 10.35 ft (3.15 m) recovered between 590 and 600 ft (179.83 and 182.88 m). The next run was stopped at 5 ft (1.52 m; 600–605 ft [182.88–184.40 m]) because of stiff drilling, and 2.35 ft (0.72 m) was recovered. Drilling was very slow for the final run of the day; we recovered 5.4 ft (1.65 m) from 605 to 610 ft (184.40 to 185.93 m). The day ended at 610 ft (185.93 m) with 31.2 ft (9.51 m) recovered from 35 ft drilled (10.67 m; recovery = 89.1%).

The first core on 5 October was delayed to pump out sands that had caved into the hole overnight. The first core from 610 to 620 ft (185.93 to 188.98 m) recovered 4.8 ft (1.46 m). The drillers believe that the soft sand slipped out of the core barrel while it was being pulled to the surface; the DGE gamma ray log confirms this is a sandy interval. The drillers decided to flush the hole and clean the mud pump before drilling another core. Recovery improved on Run 74 (620–630 ft [188.98–192.02 m]; 9.25 ft [2.82 m]) but was poor on the last two runs of the day. The drillers decided to flush the hole and clean the mud pump in preparation for the next day. The day ended at 650 ft (198.12 m) with 19.85 ft (6.05 m) recovered from 40 ft drilled (12.19 m; recovery = 49.6%).

Recovery problems continued on Run 77 (650–660 ft; 198.12–201.17 m) on 6 October, with 2 ft (0.61 m) of slurry and 3.3 ft (1.01 m) of core recovered. Don Queen reported that variable pressures occurred while recovering silts, suggesting we blew away the sandier silts. The next run was cut short at 7 ft (2.13 m) because of a change in lithology; the core recovered 2 ft (0.61 m) of slurry that was discarded and 6.9 ft (2.10 m) of solid core, including a shift from silts to glauconite sands at 6.5 ft (1.98 m). Run 79 (667–672 ft; 203.30–204.83) had 2 ft (0.61 m) of drilling slurry and 4.45 ft (1.36 m) of solid core with a thick rind. The rind was removed with a knife, exposing well-preserved silts with sand laminae. The slurry contained balls of glauconite sand that must have come from the base of the last run. We concluded that the slurry came from the bottom of the previous run that resulted from lowering the rods. Run 80 (672–677.5 ft; 204.83–206.50 m) was stopped at 5.5 ft (1.68 m) at a slight change to glauconite sand that blocked the shoe. We stopped drilling at a sudden pressure drop 4.5 ft (1.37 m) into Run 81 (677.5–682 ft; 206.50–207.87 m) and recovered 4.15 ft (1.26 m) of core. Run 82 (682–690 ft; 207.87–210.31 m) had 9.2 ft (2.80 m) of recovery. The day ended with 33 ft (10.06 m) recovered from 40 ft drilled (12.19 m; recovery = 83.5%). Final depth for the day was 690 ft (210.31 m), according to the driller's records, although 691.2 ft (210.68 m) was the depth of the deepest core.

On 7 October, the rods were stuck in the hole for two hours and the first core was not recovered until 1245 hr. From Runs 83 (690–700 ft; 210.31–213.36 m) and 84 (700–710 ft; 213.36–216.41 m), 10 and 8.9 ft (3.05 and 2.71 m) were recovered, respectively. The day ended at 710 ft (216.41 m) with 18.9 ft (5.76 m) recovered from 20 ft drilled (6.10 m; recovery = 95%).

The rods were stuck for 15 min on 8 October, delaying drilling. We did have circulation, suggesting that this problem was not due to swelling Manasquan Formation clays as experienced in the corehole at Millville. Rather, it appears that the rods were becoming stuck because of positive sidewall pressure in the Mount Laurel aquifer. We pulled up 40 ft (12.19 m) overnight to bring the bottom of the drilling string above the Englishtown aquifer. Continued circulation of bentonite freed up the rods. We hoped that a sufficient mudcake would develop in the Mount Laurel aquifer to curtail sidewall suction. Run 85 penetrated 3 ft (0.91 m; 0710–713 ft [216.41–217.32 m]) and hit a hard zone, recovering 1–2 ft (0.30–0.61 m) of slurry and 1.86 ft (0.57 m) of core. Runs 86 (713–720 ft; 217.32–219.46 m), 87 (720–730 ft; 219.46–222.60 m), and 88 (730–740 ft; 222.60–225.55 m) had recoveries of 96%, 90%, and 94%, respectively. These sands compress easily and we probably attained nearly full recovery. Rocks in the hole chewed up the shoe. The last run of the day (Run 89; 740–750 ft [225.55–228.60 m]) had 5.9 ft (1.80 m) of recovery and was complicated by several indurated and clay zones. The day ended at 750 ft (228.60 m) with 32.86 ft (10.02 m) recovered from 40 ft drilled (12.19 m; recovery = 82%).

On 9 October, drilling began with 0.6 ft (18 cm) recovered between 750 and 760 ft (228.6 and 231.65 m). The drillers tried to go back and recover the remaining core, but it was lost. Recovery improved for the rest of the day coring silt and clay. At the end of the day, the drillers pulled off 60 ft (18.29 m) of the drill rods and flushed the hole with 200 gallons of fresh mud. The day ended at 800 ft (243.84 m) with 29.6 ft (9.02 m) recovered from 50 ft drilled (15.24 m; recovery = 59.2%).

On the morning of 10 October, clays at the bottom of the hole had swelled overnight and the drillers had difficulty getting the rods back to the bottom of the hole. As a result, the first core was delayed until 1200 hr. The day ended at 830 ft (252.98 m) with 27.5 ft (8.38 m) recovered from 30 ft drilled (9.14 m; recovery = 91.7%).

A hydraulic line blew out at the end of 10 October and was replaced in the morning of 11 October. As we prepared to lower the inner core barrel, we found that the overshot would not engage the quad latch. We replaced the spring in the overshot. The hole was in good shape in the morning, with none of the grabbing that had occurred the previous mornings. The first core (Run 99; 830–840 ft [252.98–256.03 m]), brought up at 1230 hr, recovered 9.3 ft (2.83 m) of spectacular sediment. Run 100 (840–850 ft; 256.03–259.08 m) recovered 1.5 ft (0.46 m), and we switched to the extended shoe to help capture the sands. The last run of the day (Run 101; 850–860 ft [259.08–262.13 m]) recovered 4 ft (1.22 m). At the end of the day, the drillers took 60 ft (18.29 m) of pipe off the drill string. The day ended with a total of 14.8 ft (4.51 m) recovered from 30 ft drilled (9.14 m; recovery = 49%).

On 12 October, Don Queen and Casey McKinney left the site and Gene Cobbs resumed drilling. Heavy rains at the site delayed drilling and the first core was up at 1100 hr. The first core (860–861 ft; 262.13–262.43 m) ran only 1 ft (0.30 m) because slop collected in the inner core barrel when the drillers replaced the 60 ft (18.29 m) of drill string removed the night before. Coring proceeded without incident the rest of the day. The day ended at 910 ft (277.37 m) with 40.2 ft (12.25 m) recovered from 50 ft drilled (15.24 m; recovery = 80.3%).

The rods were pulled up to 870 ft (265.18 m) overnight, but were stuck on the morning of 13 October. We had circulation, but sidewall suction, probably from the Englishtown aquifer, prevented the rods from turning. The rods were freed at 1139 hr by working them up and down. Runs 108–110 (910–920, 920–930, and 930–940 ft [277.37–280.42, 277.37–283.46, and 283.46–286.51 m], respectively), recovered 9.5, 10.35, and 10 ft (2.90, 3.15, and 3.05 m), respectively. The cores consisted of silty clay that became more clayey and glauconitic in the bottom 10 ft (3.05 m). The day ended at 940 ft (286.51 m), yielding 29.85 ft (9.10 m) recovered from 30 ft drilled (9.14 m; recovery = 99.5%). At the end of the day the drillers pulled 100 ft (30.48 m) of rod off the drill string.

On 14 October, the drill string was again stuck in the hole. The drillers freed the rods at ~1130 hr and pulled the rods out of the hole to ream the areas that were pinching. The drillers reported that there were two zones that pulled on the rods during withdrawal: between 560 and 580 ft (170.69 and 176.78 m) and between 460 and 480 ft (140.21 and 146.30 m). Gene Cobbs reported that Don Queen had problems with the zone at 580 ft (176.78 m) when drilling at 620 ft (188.98 m). This zone corresponds to the Mount Laurel Formation.

After pulling all of the rods, the drillers found that the drill bit was worn out. Instead of reaming using the tricone bit, they decided to ream the hole using a 4-in (11.43 cm) coring bit to save time. This new bit is in (6.4 mm) wider than the bit they had been using. The drill string entered the hole with no problems until 460 ft (140.21 m), and the hole was reamed from that level down. On 15 October, despite having to work in howling winds, the drillers advanced drill string back to 800 ft (243.84 m).

The remainder of the drill string was put in the hole on the morning of 16 October. The first run (111; 940–950 [286.51–289.56 m]) came up at 1245 hr. Run 113 (960–960.6 ft; 292.61–292.79 m) was cut short because the drillers hit hard sediment that would not penetrate the shoe. All other cores came up without incident. The day ended at 970 ft (295.66 m) with 16.7 ft (5.09 m) recovered from 30 ft drilled (9.14 m; recovery = 55.7%).

On 17 October, rods were stuck for a short time in the morning. Run 115 (970–975 ft; 295.66–297.18 m) fell out of the shoe during retrieval. Run 116 (975–980 ft; 297.18–298.70 m) recovered 5.9 ft (1.8 m). We attribute all of this core to Run 116 and readjusted the depths of the runs. The interval from 970 to 974 ft (295.66 to 296.88 m) is assigned to Run 115 and has 0% recovery. The interval from 974 to 980 ft (296.88 to 298.70 m) is assigned to Run 116 and has 98% recovery. Run 117 (980–990 ft; 298.70–301.75 m) recovered 10.2 ft (3.11 m) of core. An indurated zone allowed only 3.2 ft (0.98 m) of recovery on Run 118 (990–993 ft; 301.75–302.67 m). From 993 to 1000 ft (302.67 to 304.80 m), 5.1 ft (1.55 m) was recovered. The scientific team left the site before the last core of the day came up and it was washed by the drillers to be described the next day. The day ended at 1010 ft (307.85 m) with 35.6 ft (10.85 m) recovered from 40 ft drilled (12.19 m; recovery = 89.0%).

The rods were not stuck on the morning of 18 October, allowing an early start. The first run was up at 0930 hr but the core had slipped out and the inner barrel was empty. The drillers made two attempts to run back into the hole to recover the core and managed to retrieve 5.7 ft (1.74 m). Run 123 (1030–1033 ft; 313.94–314.86 m) was stopped short of a full 10 ft (3.05 m) because the formation became too hard for the shoe to penetrate. The core slipped out of the barrel from Run 125 (1037.5–1047.5 ft; 316.23–319.28 m) and only 0.4 ft (0.12 m) of core was recovered on the second try. The final run of the day (Run 126; 1047.5–1050 ft [319.28–320.04 m]) recovered 1.7 ft (0.52 m). This core is assumed to have come from 1047.5–1050 ft (319.28–320.04 m) but could have come from anywhere in the interval from 1037.5 to 1050 ft (316.23 to 320.04 m). The drill crew mixed a batch of EZ Mud and pumped it into the hole at the end of the day. The day ended at 1050 ft (320.04 m) with 34 ft (10.36 m) recovered from 50 ft drilled (15.24 m; recovery = 68%).

The rods were stuck again on the morning of 19 October. The drillers freed the rods and pumped bentonite through the system. The first coring run (127; 1050–1060 ft [320.04–323.09 m]) recovered a short (0.4 ft; 12 cm) lithified interval that appeared to have blocked the bottom of the inner barrel, preventing recovery of much core. The inner barrel was again lowered to the bottom and a small piece (0.2 ft; 6 cm) of lithified core was recovered. The lithified core was scratched in several orientations, suggesting that it had been drilled over more than once or rolled while being redrilled. The drillers changed to an inner core barrel with a rock shoe in the hope of recovering core from the bottom of the outer barrel on a third try at mid-day but no core was recovered. Total recovery for Run 127 was 0.6 ft (18 cm). During Run 128, the drillers reported that drilling behavior suggested a softer lithology and that the mud rapidly thinned during the run, suggesting significant volumes of water were flowing into the hole. Upon retrieval of the inner core barrel, 0.5 ft (15 cm m) of core was recovered. Total recovery for the day was 1.1 ft of 20 ft (6.10 m) drilled (recovery = 0.5%). The drillers conditioned the hole for geophysical logging at the end of the afternoon by adding additional bentonite mud and the entire HQ drill string was pulled. Once the drill string was removed, the open hole was successfully logged by Pete McLaughlin using the DGS Century Geophysical Corporation gamma-electric multitool and the Rutgers/DGS Century winch to 1063 ft (324.00 m), just short of the 1070 ft (326.14 m) TD. The multitool obtained a suite of logs in both the downhole and uphole directions including gamma radiation, spontaneous potential (SP), short normal resistivity (16N), long normal resistivity (64N), point resistance, and lateral resistivity. Logging was completed at 2130 hr and operations ended for the day. Log quality was excellent as evaluated by registry of major inflections against the cores.

Drilling in the HQ hole was successful, with 817.11 ft (249.06 m) recovered from 1070 ft drilled (326.14 m; mean recovery = 76%; median recovery = 87%). Recovery was excellent in the Paleogene Shark River, Manasquan, Vincentown, and Hornerstown Formations (314.1 ft [95.74 m] recovered between 140 and 500 ft [42.67 and 152.4 m]; recovery = 85%), with virtually all sequence boundaries recovered within cores. Recovery was excellent in the Maastrichtian Navesink-Red Bank Formations and surprisingly good in the Mount Laurel Formation sands. Recovery problems in parts of the Englishtown and Merchantville Formations appear to be in relatively uniform portions of the section, with most, if not all, sequence boundaries recovered. Coring problems limit our understanding of the thin Cheesequake sequence.

On 20 October, NQ rods were lowered but had trouble advancing because of excessive pressure in the hole. The rods reached the bottom of hole at 1070 ft and coring resumed on 21 October using a Christensen CNWL (NQ) system, 3.162-in (8.03 cm) hole diameter, and 1.875-in (1 -in [4.76 cm]) core diameter with the rock shoe and 1.67-in (4.24 cm) core diameter with extended shoes. Part of the lost core from Run 128 (1060–1070 ft; 323.09–326.14 m) was recovered with the NQ rod. This core is a loose gravel and might be the Magothy Formation. The rods were stuck again on the afternoon of 21 October, preventing additional core recovery and forcing the rods to be pulled. The rods were again stuck on the mornings of 22 October and 23 October. The drill rods were freed in the afternoon of 23 October and we managed to obtain one core (1070–1074 ft; 326.14–327.36 m). The drillers believe the Mount Laurel aquifer has a positive head and is pushing water into the hole. This water is flowing into the Englishtown aquifer that, because of pumping, has a negative head. This water flow is pushing the pipe against the side of the hole into the Wenonah silts and clays, where the rods are sticking. The drillers removed 500 ft (152.40 m) of pipe from the hole overnight to help prevent sticking. It was decided that we would need to operate 24 hr/day to prevent stuck rods.

On 24 October, rods were firmly stuck and could not be freed. The drillers decided that the torque needed to free the NQ rods would probably snap them off; therefore, they ran HQ rods around the NQ. By 880 ft (268.22 m), the HQ rods had freed the NQ rods that were still hung to 1073.5 ft (327.20 m), but then the HQ rods became stuck. While working the HQ rods, the rotary transmission blew. On 26 October, 1073.5 ft (327.20 m) of NQ rods could still be rotated with a pipe wrench and the drillers had circulation, but the HQ rods were still stuck at 880 ft (268.22 m). The rotary transmission was removed and was taken to a local transmission shop in Manasquan. We hoped to complete repairs and resume coring by later that week.

Repairs to the transmission were completed on 1 November. The NQ rods were still free and rotating and there was full circulation through both sets of rods. We decided to use the HQ rods as a temporary casing and begin coring to TD.

Coring resumed on 2 November 2003 at 1074 ft (327.36 m). The drillers were able to make four core runs before darkness halted operations. The day ended at 1110 ft (338.33 m) with 22.5 ft (6.86 m) recovered from 36 ft (10.97 m) drilled (recovery = 62.5%). The drillers put nylon fibers into the hole in an attempt to free the HQ rods. Some of the fibers stuck to the outside of the cores.

On 3 November, 30 ft (9.14 m) of core was run (1110–1140 ft; 338.33–347.47 m). In the first 10-ft (3.05 m) run, only 0.65 ft (20 cm) was recovered. During the next 20 ft (6.10 m) of coring, 20.4 ft (6.22 m) was recovered for a total recovery of 70% for the day.

On 4 November, Run 137 (1140–1150 ft; 347.47–350.52 m) recovered 9.75 ft (2.97 m), Run 138 (1150–1160 ft; 350.52–353.57 m) recovered 9.25 ft (2.82 m), Run 139 (1160–1170; 353.57–356.62 m) recovered 8.7 ft (2.65 m), and Run 140 (1170–1180 ft; 356.62–359.66 m) recovered 10.0 ft (3.05 m), yielding 94% recovery (37.7 ft [11.49 m] from 40 ft [12.19 m] drilled) during daylight operations. The drillers planned to go to 24-hr operations on 3 November, but had difficulty finding sufficient lighting. Lights were delivered on 4 November and 24-hr operations commenced with two two-person shifts working from midnight to noon and noon to midnight. The science team decided not to work overnight because insufficient light and freezing temperatures made it difficult to adequately describe and prepare the cores. Cores brought up overnight were washed by the drillers, labeled, and set aside for the science team the next morning. Overnight drilling was successful. The drillers recovered 31.45 ft (9.59 m) from 60 ft (18.29 m) drilled (recovery = 52.4%) in fine to very coarse sands of the Magothy Formation. Despite working through cold and rainy conditions, the drillers recovered a core every 3 hr. Core 145 (1220–1230 ft; 371.86–374.90 m) had to be pumped out of the inner barrel. When the core came loose from the barrel, it shot out and the loose sand was spread on the ground. All the drillers could recover was 0.45 ft (14 cm) from a longer core. Shortly after the last core came up (0800 hr, 5 November) the alternator stopped functioning. In addition, the case holding the ball bearings (the race) inside the quad latch broke and needed replacement. Rather than waiting for the race to be delivered Gene Cobbs III drove to Reston, Virginia, returning to the site with a new race at 0100 hr on 6 November. Second shift (Big Gene and Glenn) started conditioning the hole as soon as the piece arrived. Coring resumed ~0300 hr. Drilling continued throughout the day in a steady drizzle. Sand at the bottom of Run 148 (1250–1260 ft; 381.00–384.05 m) was lost because the sands were too soft to push the clays up inside the core barrel. Recovery was variable during early night drilling in interbedded sands and clays, with 10, 3.0, and 6.5 ft (3.05, 0.91, and 1.98 m) recovered on Runs 149 (1260–1270 ft; 384.05–387.10 m), 150 (1270–1280 ft; 387.10–390.14 m), and 151 (1280–1289 ft; 390.14–392.89 m), respectively. Run 151 was stopped by a hard layer. The day ended with 33.3 ft (10.15 m) recovered from 49 ft drilled (14.94 m; recovery = 68%).

On 7 November, Run 152 (1289–1300 ft; 392.89–396.24 m) was inadvertently run 11 ft (3.35 m) across a shift change and only recovered 5.85 ft (1.78 m), though we were fortunate to capture the contact with the Bass River Formation. An indurated layer at 1295 ft (394.72 m) probably blocked the barrel. The next run (153; 1300–1310 ft [369.24–399.29 m]) was made with a rock shoe because of indurated sediments on the last run; mud pressures dropped and recovery was only moderate (4.85 ft; 1.48 m). There were caved, indurated chips at the top of Run 153. Run 154 (1310–1320 ft; 399.29–402.34 m) recovered 10.7 ft (3.26 m); the top of this core also contained indurated, caved, angular chips. We believe that this run includes ~0.7–1.0 ft (21–30 mm) from the last run. We experienced problems with fogging of the camera lens but fixed it with the hair dryer. Runs 155 (1320–1330 ft; 402.34–405.38 m), 156 (1330–1340 ft; 405.38–408.43 m), 157 (1340–1350 ft; 408.43–411.48 m), and 158 (1350–1360 ft; 411.48–414.53 m) recovered 8.1, 9.65, 9.6, and 10.6 ft (2.47, 2.94, 2.93, and 3.23 m), respectively.

Drilling crews changed at 0320 hr with the arrival of Don Queen, driller, and Jim Ruman, helper. On the morning of 8 November, the scientific staff had 60 ft (18.29 m) of core (1360–1420 ft; 414.53–432.82 m) waiting to be described on site. The drillers reported no problems drilling in the night. Overnight temperatures were quite cold, although it stayed above freezing. No problems were encountered during the day. The scientific staff left the site having processed 90 ft (27.43 m) of core (recovery = 97.1%). Smooth coring continued into the early part of the night. For the 24-hr period of 8 November, recovery was 87.45 ft (26.65 m) from 90 ft drilled (27.43 m; recovery = 97%; 1370–1460 ft [417.58–445.01 m]).

Conditions deteriorated through the night, with temperatures dropping to 22°F and severe wind chills of ~11°F. The drillers tried to keep operations going, running water to keep the lines unfrozen, and managed to pull three cores between 0000 and 0900 hr on Runs 169 (1460–1470 ft; 445.01–448.06 m), 170 (1470–1480 ft; 448.06–451.10 m), and 171 (1480–1490 ft; 451.10–454.15 m). Recovery on Runs 168–170 (7.9, 5.1, and 6.2 ft; 2.41, 1.55, and 1.89 m, respectively) was hampered by variable lithologies, including indurated zones which blocked the core barrel at 1457.9 and 1476.2 ft (444.37 and 449.95 m); Run 171 had nearly full recovery. The cores drilled overnight were frozen solid by the time the science party arrived at 0600 hr but were partially thawed in the field trailer before description. Run 172 (1490–1500 ft; 454.15–457.20 m) drilled with variable pressures but returned an excellent core with 9.8 ft of recovery including a transition from organic-rich to organic-poor sediments and a sequence boundary at the top of a sand bed. A hard layer at 1507.5 ft (459.49 m) blocked Run 173 (1500–1510 ft; 457.20–460.25 m), recovering 7.5 ft (2.29 m).

Temperatures fell well below freezing over night. Any hose that did not have water running through it froze. In addition, the mud line and the mud pump pressure gauge froze, which meant that the drillers could not tell when the barrel blocked off during drilling. A total of 30 ft (9.14 m) of core was drilled in the night. We ended up with 40.1 ft (12.22 m) recovered from 60 ft (18.29 m) drilled on 9 November (recovery = 67% recovery) from 1460 to 1520 ft (445.01 to 463.30 m).

On 10 November, recovery overnight was poor (45% on Runs 175–177), reflecting freezing of the gauges and variations from clays to sands within runs. The drillers could not wash the drilling mud off of the cores that came up in the night but were able to circulate mud and drill. In the morning, the first core was up at 0745 hr. The drillers had to wait until the mud line thawed before they could remove the core from the inner core barrel. When the scientific staff arrived on site, the cores brought up overnight were frozen and had to be thawed before being processed. The National Guard Base asked the drillers to finish operations so that water could be turned off for the winter. Temperatures ameliorated during the day. Recovery was 6.4 ft (1.95 m) on Run 178 (1550–1560 ft; 472.44–475.49 m). Run 179 blocked off at ~8.5 ft (2.59 m; 1560–1568.5 ft [475.49–478.08 m]), penetrating the top of the Potomac Formation, which was the target of the hole. We were delighted to have achieved this because it was always unclear if it would be possible to penetrate the Potomac Formation here (log predictions varied from 1505 to 1540 ft [458.72 to 469.39 m]). We advised the drillers to advance at least another 20 ft (6.10 m) for logging. The evening shift drilled to 1590 ft by midnight, with excellent recovery. For 10 November, we recovered 45.65 ft (13.91 m) of core from 70 ft drilled (21.34 m; recovery = 65.2%). The night shift drilled and recovered the final core at 0439 hr on 11 November, reaching TD of 1600 ft (487.68 m).

Logging was conducted through the drill rods on 11 November with the Rutgers/DGS Century Geophysical Drawworks and the DGS Century Slimline Gamma Tool to ensure a gamma ray log of the complete hole in case the hole was lost before open-hole logging. A quick downhole run (60–70 ft/min; 18.29–21.34 m/min) was completed to 1598.6 ft (487.68 m). The log below 1590 ft (484.63 m), obtained when the tool passed through the drill bit into the open hole, has relatively elevated gamma ray values. On the slow run (30 ft/min; 9.14 m/min) in the uphole direction, the tool hung on the bottom of the bit, The tool was lowered, raised again, and successfully passed through the bit and core barrel, but the electrical connection to the tool was lost at 1441 ft (439.22 m). The tool was raised to the top of the hole, another rapid downhole run (60–70 ft/min; 18.29–21.34 m/min) was made to just above the top of the core barrel at 1593.7 ft (485.76 m), and then an uneventful slow (30 ft/min; 9.14 m/min) uphole run from 1593.7 ft (485.76 m) was made to the surface. The multitool would not pass below the HQ depths, so operations in the hole were ended. After removing the rods, the hole was plugged and abandoned.

At Sea Girt, we recovered 1215.76 ft (370.56 m) from TD of 1600 ft (487.68 m) drilled and achieved a recovery of 77.9% (median recovery = 86%). Lithologies were described onsite and subsequently at the Rutgers core facility. These descriptions form the basis for the preliminary lithologic descriptions. Cores were cut into 2-ft (0.61 m) sections, labeled at the top and bottom of each section, placed into split PVC pipe (3-in diameter), wrapped in plastic sheeting, and stored in 2-ft (0.61 m) NQ wax boxes. A total of 168 core boxes were moved to permanent storage at the Rutgers University core library for further study. Cores were sampled at ~5-ft (1.52 m) intervals for planktonic foraminiferal, calcareous nannofossil, palynology, dinocyst, and diatom biostratigraphy and coarse-fraction lithologic studies at the Rutgers core library.