One of the important conclusions of the workshop was that the drilling equipment used on Legs 147 and 153, while adequate for coring shallow single-bit holes, was not up to the task of establishing deep re-entry holes. Furthermore, the need of the scientific party for core to study militated against operational time being spent on overcoming the difficulties associated with setting guide bases and casing. But although the inadequacies of some existing equipment were brutally exposed on these two legs, the consensus of drilling engineering opinion at the meeting was that 500+ m holes could be achieved, using drilling technologies that have yet to be tested in these harsh seafloor environments and strengthened versions of existing equipment. A clear case can therefore be made for an engineering leg to test this hardware in an offset drilling location before another science leg is scheduled with the aim of achieving a deep hole.

The overall objectives of an engineering leg would be to concentrate on establishing a re-entry structure with casing down to 100-200 m. Work would be restricted to one or two sites and only a skeletal scientific party (maximum 10 scientists) carried. Some coring would be conducted mainly to confirm rock type or to test particular coring systems, but maximizing core recovery would not be an objective of the leg. Indeed, the opportunity to core in the top 100-200 m would be sacrificed if that improves the chances of setting casing.

Specific objectives of the leg would probably include:

1. Testing new hardware for initiating the hole
(a) Modified hard-rock guide base or template.
(b) Drill-in Casing System (DIC). The existing DIC in ODP is designed for sediments. With a re-entry funnel on the top end, it was used on Legs 139 and 150. A more robust DIC would be needed for offset drilling.
(c) Drill-in BHA with Tricone Retractable Bit (TRB). This system was developed for initiating a DCS hole. With the TRB it might be possible to drill in a few joints of 10 3/4" casing. Coring would then have to rely on the 7 1/8" Diamond Core Barrel (DCB) .

2. Testing Coring Systems
(a) DCB in gabbro and peridotite
(b) Motor Division Core Barrel (MDCB) in gabbro and peridotite

3. Testing equipment for drilling and hole stabilization
(a) Under reamers
(b) Hole openers
(c) Roller reamers
(d) Bits
(e) Stabilizers

4. Testing improved methods of hole cleaning

5. VIT Camera system
Improved operation and navigation

(1) It should be in an area already characterized by drilling, e.g. MARK or Hess Deep.
(2) It must be in a place where both gabbro and periodolite can be drilled.
(3) The area should have a range of slopes, e.g. 10°-30°.
(4) Sites with and without sediment/rubble cover should be available.

To Realistic Strategies for Offset Drilling

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