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CHIKYU MAIL NEWS Vol. 68, October 29th 2007

This mail news service provides you with information
about the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel "Chikyu" and
science and technology for the IODP Earth exploration.

CHIKYU HAKKEN WEB SITE
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/
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IODP NanTroSEIZE Stage 1:
Expedition 314: NanTroSEIZE LWD Transect
Weekly Report #5
Date 26/Oct/2007
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/Expedition/NantroSEIZE/exp314_wr5.html

The week has been mixture of the happiness at the beginning after
seeing great data from the C0002A and smooth drilling up to the 500
meters below seafloor (mbsf) at the C0003A, and kind of shock for
disconnection of LWD assembly at the C0003A and recovering days.

Drilling assembly deployment for Site C0003 was done while drifting
downstream at 2 knots for 12 nm from 14:00 on 19 October. On the way,
an Azimuth Thruster blower motor was replaced and arrived at the site
at 10:45, beacons were calibrated, the bit was positioned above the
seafloor and then a first check-shot for seismic data acquisition was
performed. Hole C0003A was spudded at 12:45 and jetted in 50 m.
Rotary drilling began at 13:30 and drilled to more than 500 mbsf without
much difficulty. At about 530 mbsf, sticky hole conditions came on
relatively suddenly and drilling went to with excessive torque and rising
pump pressure. The bit became stuck, and rotation was not possible
though circulation continued. While trying to turn and move the pipe to
free it, the lower part of drill pipe and LWD tools became disconnected
at 14:15 on 21 October. Continued to attempting to recover the remaining
string and LWD tools by overshot and fishing assembly many times,
but it did not go successfully at this moment.

During the recovery operation, scientists processed and interpreted
the LWD data taken from Site C0002A continuously. Report drafts
for the Site C0001 are under the final review by co-chief Scientists
and editor-in-chief. The scientific party reviewed and discussed the
results at a first site summary meeting on October 24. A second, final
meeting will be held on 27 October to finalize the site reports.
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Go to NanTroSEIZE Special Site:
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/CHIKYU/status.html

Go to Expedition 314 Photo Gallery:
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/Expedition/NantroSEIZE/exp314_pg.html

Go to NanTroSEIZE science plan:
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/Expedition/NantroSEIZE/index.html

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CHIKYU MAIL NEWS
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CHIKYU HAKKEN web site introduces you to every
aspect of the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel "Chikyu" and
science and technology for the IODP Earth exploration.
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is an
international marine research drilling program dedicated
to advancing scientific understanding of the Earth by
monitoring and sampling sub seafloor environments.
IODP drilling operations aboard the Chikyu are managed by
JAMSTEC through CDEX, Japan Implementing Organization.
http://www.iodp.org

"CHIKYU HAKKEN" means Discover the Earth in Japanese.
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