BGS oriented seabed rockdrill (BRIDGE Drill) - engineering report for scientific cruise JR63

Smith, D.J.; Brett, C.P.; Wallis, D.G.; Derrick, J.F.. 2001 BGS oriented seabed rockdrill (BRIDGE Drill) - engineering report for scientific cruise JR63. Edinburgh, UK, British Geological Survey, 33pp. (CR/01/157N) (Unpublished)

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Abstract/Summary

This report describes the building up, testing, calibration and operation of the BGS BRIDGE drill system whilst on scientific cruise JR63. The location was in the vicinity of 15 45N, 46 55W, the fifteen-twenty fracture zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This cruise was in support of a scientific award from a proposal by Prof Joe Cann, Leeds University, Dr. Chris McCleod, Cardiff University and Simon Allerton (formally Edinburgh University). Whilst other equipment was taken and used, (TOBI, swath, dredging etc), during the cruise, the primary system on which the proposal was based was the oriented drill. After solving various problems in almost all aspects of the system, during the initial period of swath, dredging and TOBI, the drill operated with no significant down time throughout the operational period. Twelve days of operations resulted in 73 sites drilled with core recovery from 63 bringing the total number of sites for this drill to 90. Maximum operating water depth was 4520m; maximum drilled inclination was 42 degrees from the vertical. A total of 320 seabed landings were made and seabed photographs taken. On a further 87 attempted landings the drill rig fell over and had to be picked up again. The drill operated successfully at its maximum design depth of 4500m. It is believed that a few records have also been broken, namely the only drill able to produce scribed core and oriented to a known reference. Deepest water depth (4520m) drilled utilising remote drilling techniques and possibly only beaten by ODP type drilling. Since the prototype had been designed, built and tested in 1998 on JR36, there has been little or no development of the system. Development would improve reliability of certain components and ease of use or would enhance the system’s capability making it more useful for this particular application and other types of marine science. A series of recommendations are described to address ease of use, improved performance, reliability and client requests.

Item Type:	Publication - Report
Programmes:	BGS Programmes > Other
Funders/Sponsors:	British Geological Survey
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed.
Date made live:	25 Sep 2024 14:53 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538077

Item Type:

Publication - Report

Programmes:

BGS Programmes > Other

Funders/Sponsors:

British Geological Survey

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed.

Date made live:

25 Sep 2024 14:53 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538077