The 56-nmi transit to Site 1213 took 6.0 hr at an average speed of 8.6 kt. Upon arriving on site, the thrusters and hydrophones were lowered and the ship was switched over to dynamic positioning mode, initiating operations at Site 1213 at 0606 hr on 2 October 2001.
An RCB bottom-hole assembly (BHA) was assembled and run to 3902.4 meters below rig floor (mbrf), and Hole 1213A was spudded at 1425 hr on 2 October. The first core recovered 8.43 m of sediment, indicating a seafloor depth of 3894.0 mbrf, or 3882.8 meters below sea level. RCB coring continued to 198.9 mbsf, with an average recovery for the 21 RCB cores of 21.7% (Table T1). After deploying core barrel 21R, the sinker bars on the forward core line were being run in the hole when the hole packed off without warning. Before the driller could shut down the circulating pumps, the pressure built up enough to blow the sinker bars back up into the line wiper, unseating this assembly. During this event, the core line failed just above the rope socket, and the sinker bars fell to the bottom of the drill string on top of the previously deployed core barrel. The core line was repaired, and a second set of sinker bars was attached. While the repair was being made to the wireline, Core 21R was cut. The first attempt to engage the rope socket with the overshot failed, and two more wireline runs were made using a core barrel-core catcher assembly. All attempts failed to engage the rope socket, and coring had to be terminated. The drill string was retrieved after a brief loss of circulation and rotation, ending drilling at Hole 1213A at 0300 hr on 4 October.
The ship was offset 30 m to the north, and Hole 1213B was spudded with the RCB at 1155 hr on 4 October. We drilled ahead to 189.7 mbsf to provide approximately a one-core overlap with Hole 1213A. Below 189.7 mbsf, RCB coring advanced the hole to 447.8 mbsf through largely a chert/chalk interval, with an average recovery of 10.5%. From 447.8 to 494.4 mbsf, RCB coring continued through diabase and basalt with good recovery (71.7%) at a slow rate ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 m/hr. Coring operations were terminated when the depth objectives were achieved (~50 m into igneous rock).
Following coring operations, the hole was prepared for logging, including a wiper trip to 90.6 mbsf and circulation of 40 bbl of drilling mud before and after the wiper trip. After releasing the bit, 165 bbl of logging mud was circulated, and the drill string was tripped back and positioned at 105.4 mbsf. The first logging run with the triple combo tool string was only able to reach ~431 mbsf. While logging up from that depth several tight spots were noted, including one at ~190 mbsf that required working the tool for ~30 min. The tool had to be turned off during this process, so no logs were obtained between 190 mbsf and the base of the pipe.
We did not deploy the second tool string, the FMS-sonic, because of the questionable hole conditions and the approach of severe tropical storm Krosa into the operational area. With the storm forecast to come within 150 nmi of the location, it was necessary that the drill string be recovered and the drill collars stowed before conditions worsened. After rigging down the logging equipment, the drill string was retrieved, clearing the rig floor at 1900 hr on 9 October, concluding operations at Site 1213. After securing the ship for transit, we departed on a southerly heading to avoid the approaching storm.