Abstract:
The global earth sciences community is currently planning a new scientific drilling program, following and building upon the successes of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (1968-1983) and Ocean Drilling Program (1985-2003). International in scope, the new Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) will combine multiple drilling platforms, new approaches, and new technologies in addressing major, outstanding Earth system problems. These problems involve both the solid earth and our environment, and include such topics as the earthquake generation zone at convergent plate boundaries, the deep biosphere, gas hydrates, rapid climate change, extreme climates, continental breakup and sedimentary basin formation, large igneous provinces (LIPs), and oceanic crust. Three types of drilling platforms are planned: 1) a deep water, riser-equipped drill ship; 2) a deep water, non-riser drilling vessel; and 3) alternate (fit-to-mission) drilling facilities. All drill sites will require seismic surveys, and the need for sophisticated seismic investigations is especially highlighted in the deep targets planned for the riser vessel. Industrial seismic acquisition and processing have advanced far beyond academic and governmental capabilities in the past decades, but the new scientific drilling program will be state-of-the-art, with continuous coring, downhole logging, and analytical laboratory facilities. Thus, opportunities for industry to cooperate with academia and government in the new era of scientific ocean drilling are highly promising.