9/15/13
Drilling through the Earth's crust
Deep-water drilling technology is being developed by The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and AGR drilling services. Why? According to Geology.com, "Drilled cores from the mantle could provide scientists with answers to questions about the structure, composition, mineralogy, and in situ physical properties of oceanic crust and the geological nature of the seismic Moho."
Primarily, such drilling was only used for shallow-water oil and gas recovery. But now that IODP is aided by AGR, they are now able to expand their drilling to lower depths of the ocean.
"The 'riserless mud recovery technology' (RMRT), owned by AGR, is expected to operate in hyper-deepwater depths greater than 12,000 feet." (Geology.com). A major benefactor for this project is DeepStar Consortium, an industry that supports deepwater research and technology.
Previous to this project, on an IODP expedition, scientists encountered mantle depths while looking into seafloor spreading rates. The drilling reached volcanic rock and a fossil magma chamber deep beneath the ocean floor.
Website: http://geology.com/press-release/drilling-to-mantle/
Picture: http://geology.com/press-release/drilling-to-mantle/riserless-mud-recovery-lg.jpg
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