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| HOME > Expedition > Deep Coalbed Biosphere > Exp. 337 |
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| IODP Expedition 337 "Deep Coalbed Biosphere off Shimokita" |
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Overview |
| Expedition Number |
337 |
| Science Plan |
The Deep Biosphere and the Subseafloor Ocean |
| Location |
Off Shimokita peninsula, Japan |
| Period |
Current schedule has been canceled due to ship's damages by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake (more) |
| Drilling Vessel |
CHIKYU |
| Scientific motivation
Understanding the relationship between hydrocarbon reservoirs on the continental margins and geobiological processes in the deep subsurface is one of the fundamental scientific challenges in scientific ocean drilling. Using the riser-drilling system of Chikyu, the expedition 337 will explore the shallow to deep hydrocarbon system associated with Eocene lignite-coalbed buried more than 2,000 meters below the seafloor off the Shimokita Peninsulavin the northwestern
Pacific,. Among others, we will address the following questions;
- What is the ecological role of deep life in offshore hydrocarbon reservoirs?
- Do deeply buried hydrocarbon reservoirs act as geobiological reactors that sustain microbial life by releasing nutrients and energy sources?
- Do the conversion and transport of hydrocarbons and other reduced compounds influence biomass, diversity, activity and functionality of deep subseafloor microbial populations?
- What are the fluxes of both thermogenically and biologically produced organic compounds and how important are these for the carbon budgets in the shallower subsurface and the ocean?
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Drilling Plan |
Expedition 337 will deepen Site C9001, which was drilled and cased to 511 mbsf during the Chikyu shakedown cruise in 2006. During riser drilling operations between 647 and 2200 mbsf, ~30 cores will be taken at representative depth intervals. In addition to regular IODP standard RCB core, we will use industry-type large-diameter cores in anticipation of better core recovery from brittle formation. Cuttings and mud-gas samples will be continuously available for scientific analysis to complement the missing intervals of spot cores. Wireline logging program includes geophysical and geochemical measurements, borehole imaging, and in-situ sampling of pristine formation fluids.
This is the first IODP expedition developed on the basis of a complementary project proposal (CPP) and supported in part by the Strategic Fund for Strengthening Leading-edge Research and Development from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to the JAMSTEC.
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Scientific Prospectus |
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Expedition Science Party |
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Fumio INAGAKI
Group Leader of Geomicrobiology Group
Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research
JAMSTEC (JAPAN) |
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Kai-Uwe Hinrichs
Professor of Organic Geochemistry
MARUM & Dept. of Geosciences
University of Bremen (Germany) |
| Expedition Project Manager |
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Yusuke KUBO
IODP Department
Center for Deep Earth Exploration, JAMSTEC
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