Primary Sites
The operational time estimates indicate that the five highest priority sites can be cored and logged
in the time allocated for Leg 194 (Table 2). These include two platform sites (Sites CS-01 and
06), two sites to sample the adjacent paleoslope sediments (Sites CS-02 and 05), and a distal site
(Site CS-10) to acquire a high-quality biostratigraphy that can be correlated to the other sites
using high-resolution seismic data. The platform sites will first be penetrated to basement using
the advanced hydraulic piston corer and the extended core barrel (APC/XCB) (e.g., Site CS-01)
and/or the rotary core barrel (RCB) where the formation is too indurated (e.g., Sites CS-01 and
06). In an attempt to achieve better recovery in reefal carbonate intervals of interest (maximum
300 m per site), we plan to deploy the developmental advanced diamond core barrel (ADCB; see
below). All sites are to be drilled to basement (including up to one barrel of basement rock) to
form a facies transect from a position within the shallow facies of MP2, across the platform
edge, and downslope to platform MP3. Sites between the two shallow phases of platform facies
are designed to establish whether lowstand signals can be detected in slope sediments (Sites CS
03A and CS-05A). If such signals can be seen, it may be possible to establish rates as well as
amplitudes of sea-level fluctuations.
The order of operations will greatly depend on weather conditions. Should conditions be favorable after transit from Townsville (1.2 days) and the Hydrate Autoclave Coring Equipment (HYACE) tests (2 days, see below), sites would be drilled in the following order: CS-01A, CS 02A, CS-06, CS-05, and CS-10A. After completing operations, including potential contingency plans (see below), there will be an 8-day transit to Guam.
Contingency Sites/Holes
Should time be available after completing operations at the five primary sites, the following
contingency plans will be evaluated and ranked depending on available Leg 194 results. Three
types of contingency plans have been developed:
As the site survey seismic data was collected using differential Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, it is not expected that we will have to use the JOIDES Resolution to collect survey data prior to drilling Leg 194 sites.
Advanced Diamond Core Barrel (ADCB) Coring System
The ADCB coring system was designed to improve core recovery in indurated sediments and
rocks by using a diamond-impregnated drill bit that cuts a core by grinding instead of chipping
as does the conventional RCB system. The outer diameter and cutting area of the ADCB are
smaller than those of the conventional RCB system (outer diameter = 7.5 in vs. 9.875 in), which
potentially increases the penetration rates. In addition, circulation around the freshly cut core is
better constrained, and flushing away recovered core material is minimized. The recovered
ADCB core has a larger diameter than conventional RCB cores (3.345 in vs. 2.312 in), which
results in greater recovery in friable sediments while also increasing available material for
analysis.
Because this tool is still in development, there are a few operational limitations. First, only 300 m
of smaller diameter drill pipe needed for the ADCB has been purchased by ODP to date. This
means to core an interval greater than 300 m, the drill string needs to be tripped to the surface, a
RCB bit must be deployed to ream the hole to the bottom of the first 300-m interval, and the pipe
must be tripped again to deploy the next ADCB bit to continue coring. Second, the logging tools
cannot be deployed through the ADCB bit. Thus, if downhole logging is desired, an additional
pipe trip is needed to deploy the logging bottom-hole assembly (BHA). Third, as the diamond
coring bit is more susceptible to wear, a pipe trip may also be required to change the bit before
300 m are penetrated. In addition, core splitting, sampling, and archiving issues have not been
addressed for the larger core diameter and would have to be optimized during the cruise.
The ADCB system will be deployed for the first time on Leg 193. Since the recovery of reefal carbonates has traditionally been difficult with the ODP arsenal of tools, and because the recovery of these lithologies is a primary Leg 194 objective, the use of this system will be important for Leg 194. Deployment of this developmental tool at one or two sites is therefore an essential use of Leg 194 operational time. Unless some fatal flaws are discovered during Leg 193, the ADCB will be used at the first site to evaluate the usefulness of this tool in these sediments. Subsequent deployments will only occur if operational time does not exceed the time estimates and if coring results are truly superior to those obtained with the RCB system.
HYACE Testing
In July 2000, two days were added to the original Leg 194 operations schedule to accommodate
feasibility tests of the developmental HYACE tool, which is a gas hydrate sampling and
monitoring system. The HYACE was modified from the ODP Pressure Core Sampler (PCS) at
the Technische Universität Berlin with support from the European Commission and from ODP.
The tests will be carried out at the very beginning of the leg at one of the designated contingency
sites. At least five dedicated personnel will sail for these tests. Since a full technical and scientific
staff is needed during the scientific operations of Leg 194, the HYACE test personnel will be
replaced by ODP technical staff arriving with a boat from shore two days into the cruise.