During the ~3.6-nmi transit (in dynamic positioning mode) to Site 1114, a rotary core barrel (RCB) bottom-hole assembly (BHA) was prepared with a new bit and a mechanical bit release. The ship arrived on location at 2015 hr on 12 July 1998, and a positioning beacon was deployed. However, this beacon could not be used for positioning because it had shifted into half-repetition-rate mode, possibly because of interference from one of the precision depth recorders (PDR) (12 or 3.5 kHz). The ship returned to the Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, and a second beacon was deployed at 2130 hr.
While we lowered the pipe to determine seafloor depth, the strong current caused the knobby drilling joints to drag in the guide horn. This allowed the heave compensator to close, leading the driller to incorrectly assume the seafloor had been tagged. As a result, several water cores were recovered before Hole 1114A was eventually spudded at 406.5 meters below sea level (mbsl) at 0130 hr on 13 July 1998 (Tables T1, T2).
The RCB Cores 1R through 31R were taken from 0 to 295.4 meters below seafloor (mbsf). The intervals l42-180 and 257-276 mbsf were characterized by a rapid rate of penetration (ROP) and extremely poor recovery (0%-4%). The small amount of recovery indicated the presence of sand in these intervals. Metamorphic rocks were first recovered at ~300.0 mbsf (in Core 32R), and coring continued to 352.8 mbsf (Core 37R). While coring there were several episodes when we lost acoustic contact with the positioning beacons. A third positioning beacon was deployed at 1340 hr on 14 July, but contact with this beacon was lost almost immediately. At 1642 hr, a fourth beacon was deployed using the Zodiac ~150 m up current from Hole 1114A. The intent was to have the beacon drift with the >1.5-nmi/hr current while sinking to the bottom and to end up closer to the actual spud location. No further positioning problems were encountered.
While we prepared to retrieve Core 37R, the hole collapsed, packing off the annulus and preventing circulation. The pipe was raised 80 m above the bottom of the hole on two separate occasions before circulation could be established. We spent 6.25 hr trying to get back to the bottom to resume coring without success; therefore, we decided to run wireline logs in the portion of the hole that remained open. The bit release sleeve was shifted at 316.0 mbsf; however, the bit did not release. The pipe was picked up to 304.0 mbsf while the pipe was rotated by the top drive. The bit released between 304 and 316 mbsf, and the hole was displaced with 90 bbl of sepiolite mud. The pipe was raised to 80.0 mbsf, and we rigged up for logging.
The first logging run with the triple combo was logged from 304.0 to ~60 mbsf. The second logging run with the Formation MicroScanner- (FMS) sonic tool was able to log up from 299.0 mbsf. Once logging was completed (0545 hr on 16 July) we ran the open-ended drill pipe back in the hole as far as possible (107.0 mbsf) and displaced the hole with 35 bbl of 10.5-ppg bentonite gel mud. The drill string was pulled clear of the seafloor at 0625 hr and the four positioning beacons were recovered in 1.25 hr. At 0800 hr on 16 July 1998, the drilling assembly cleared the rig floor and we began the transit to Site 1115 (proposed site ACE-l5A). Core recovery from Hole 1114A was 43.78 m (12%).