IODP Expedition 354
Bengal Fan
Daily Science Report for 28 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451B (8°0.4203′N, 88°44.4745′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: We continued washing and reaming back to the bottom of the hole (640.8 m). We drilled ahead 5 m (640.8–645.8 m) with a center bit to ensure any pieces of the failed XCB cutting shoe were cleared to the side of the hole. Two wireline runs were needed to retrieve the center bit as the first run came up without the core barrel and center bit. We then started RCB coring at 0645 h and Cores U1451B-15R to 20R penetrated from 645.8 to 704.6 m (63.8 m) and recovered 11.53 m of core (18%). Cores U1451B-15R, 17R, and 18R are predominantly silty clay and silt. Core 16R contains clayey silt with minor nannofossil-rich calcareous ooze and a dark black layer rich in plant fragments. Ages of the cores recovered today are middle Miocene.
Daily Science Report for 27 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451B (8°0.4203′N, 88°44.4745′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: At 0340 h, the APC/XCB bit arrived back on the rig floor. We started assembling an RCB bit and bottom-hole assembly (BHA). After this was spaced out, we picked up three additional drill collars, finished assembling the BHA, and started lowering it to the seafloor at 0800 h. We deployed the camera and reentered Hole U1451B at 1642 h. The bit was lowered through the 10.75 inch casing that extends to 401 m and then into the open hole below. At 578 m, the bit encountered an obstruction in the hole, so it was raised up to 569 m to install the top drive. At this time, the drill string became stuck in the hole. The drill string was freed after 2 h of working the drill string by applying overpull, torque, and circulation. We then raised the bit back up to 549 m to install two knobbies beneath the top drive. We then started washing and reaming back to the bottom of the hole (at 650.8 m). At midnight, the bit had reached 588.5 m. Scientists presented their initial results from Hole U1451A and continued working on Site U1450 reports.
Daily Science Report for 26 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451B (8°0.4203′N, 88°44.4745′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we deepened Hole U1451B from 571.1 to 640.8 m (69.7 m) with eight XCB cores and one 6.7 m interval that was drilled without coring. Cores 5X–7X penetrated 29.1 m and recovered 9.71 m of core (33%). When Core 7X arrived back on the rig floor, the lower part of the XCB cutting shoe was missing—it had been left in the hole. The inner flow diverter was still in place, so it was inferred that the bit became overheated and failed after coring as the bit was pulled off the bottom of the hole. We deployed an XCB barrel with a center bit, advanced 6.7 m to clear the pieces of XCB bit from the bottom of the hole, and then resumed XCB coring. Cores 9X–12X penetrated 33.9 m (606.9–639.0 m) and recovered 3.46 m of core (10%). On the last of these cores, the XCB cutting shoe was recovered with substantial cracks in it—it fell apart on deck when the core was hydraulically extracted from the throat of the cutting shoe. Once again, we inferred that the bit was overheating. For the next core, we decided to reduce the weight on the bit, lower the rotation rate, and increase fluid being pumped. When Core 13X was recovered the lowermost part of the XCB cutting shoe was missing. Further XCB coring was no longer considered viable, so at 1930 h we started pulling out of the hole. We plan to switch to an RCB coring assembly, reenter Hole U1451B, and continue coring to our target depth. Cores described today (7X–13X) are predominantly silty clay with thin silt interbeds; in a few cases clayey silt is the dominant lithology. Ages of these cores are still middle Miocene.
Daily Science Report for 25 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451B (8°0.4203′N, 88°44.4745′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: We reentered Hole U1451B at 0255 h, retrieved the camera system, lowered the bit to 396 m (~5 m above the bottom of the casing), dropped a center bit, and then washed to 404.7 m. At 0645 h, we started drilling ahead without coring from that depth to 542 m (the previous hole had cored to 582.1 m). We then recovered the center bit and started XCB coring. Cores U1451B-2X to 4X penetrated from 542.0 to 571.1 m (29.1 m) and recovered 5.88 m of core (20%). These cores are middle Miocene silty clay with minor layers of sand. Scientists attended a presentation on the evolution of the active Bengal Fan channel/levee system over the past 20 ka. They also continued to finalize Site U1449 reports, prepare Site U1450 reports, and collect/analyze data from Site U1451.
Daily Science Report for 24 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451B (8°0.4203′N, 88°44.4745′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: At 0430 h, we finished drilling in the 401.76 m of 10.75 inch casing with the reentry cone. The reentry cone landed on the mound of cuttings from drilling the hole (~1 m above the seafloor). We activated the casing running tool to release the reentry system, and started to retrieve the camera system and drilling assembly. By 1600 h, all parts of the drilling assembly had been taken apart, cleaned, and stored. We assembled the APC/XCB bottom-hole assembly and started lowering it to the seafloor at 1830 h. At midnight, the bit was at 3169 m below the rig floor. In Hole U1451B, we plan to drill without coring to ~540 m (Hole U1451A cored to 582.1 m), and then XCB as far as possible. We will have the option to deploy the APC to recover any loose sands—a high priority science objective not likely to be recovered by our other coring systems. Scientists continued to finalize Site U1449 reports, prepare Site U1450 reports, and collect/analyze data from Site U1451.
Daily Science Report for 23 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451B (8°0.4203′N, 88°44.4745′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: We finished making up the drilling assembly that extends through and just below the bottom of the 401.76 m of 10.75 inch casing attached to the reentry cone. The casing running tool was attached to the top of the drilling assembly and then latched into the reentry system. At 0315 h, we opened up the moonpool and started lowering the reentry system to the seafloor. After deploying the camera system at 1000 h, we started to drill the reentry system into the seafloor at 1200 h. At midnight, the bottom of the casing had been drilled 315 m into the seafloor. Scientists continued to finalize Site U1449 reports, prepare Site U1450 reports, and collect/analyze data from Site U1451. Today’s science meeting reviewed the seismic stratigraphy of Site U1449 and implications of fan channel-levee dynamics on sediment sources for the cores we recovered.
Daily Science Report for 22 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451B (8°0.42′N, 88°44.47′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: After pulling out of Hole U1451A, the first part of the day consisted of retrieving the drill string. The bit arrived back on the rig floor at 0600 h. The rest of the day was spent preparing and assembling the reentry system that will be installed in Hole U1451B to facilitate our deep coring and logging objectives at this site. The pre-assembled reentry cone was moved over the moon pool. We then assembled a 402 m long, 10.75 inch diameter casing string and latched it into the reentry cone. Our plan is to drill this casing into the seafloor, so the last part of our day was spent making up the drilling assembly and lowering it through the reentry cone and casing. This drilling assembly will consist of a 9.875 inch tricone bit, underreamer set to 12.75 inches, mud motor, two stands of drill collars, and 328.57 m of drill pipe. At the noon crossover we held a meeting to discuss Site U1450 results.
Daily Science Report for 21 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451A (8°0.4195′N, 88°44.5012′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we penetrated 118.7 m of section in Hole U1451A. This was accomplished primarily with an alternating series of 4.7 m long HLAPC cores and 4.8 m advances without coring. Cores 87F–110F extended from 463.4 to 573.7 m (52.7 m) and recovered 21.03 m of core (40%). Recovery for the last four HLAPC cores was poor (only from 0.55 to 1.30 m), and up to 40 klbs of pressure was required to pull the core barrel out of the formation despite only having penetrated a short distance into the formation. We decided further HLAPC coring would not work. The 12 intervals drilled without coring penetrated 57.6 m of formation. Before stopping coring operations in Hole U1451A, we took one XCB core (Core 111X, 573.7–582.1 m, 4.75 m recovered, 57%). After this arrived on deck at 1750 h, we started pulling the drill string out of the hole and the bit cleared the seafloor at 2130 h. Just before midnight, we took a break from tripping pipe to slip and cut the drill line. Cores described today (56F–102F) continue to be an alternating nannofossil-rich calcareous ooze, sand, silt, silty clay, silt and clay; however, it is predominantly silt and sand below Core 84F. The base of the section cored in Hole U1451A extends back into the middle Miocene.
Daily Science Report for 20 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451A (8°0.4195′N, 88°44.5012′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we penetrated another 166.2 m of section in Hole U1451A. This was accomplished with an alternating series of 4.7 m long HLAPC cores and 4.8 m advances without coring. Eighteen HLAPC cores (52F–86F) extended from 297.2 to 463.4 m (84.6 m) and recovered 75.78 m of core (75%). The 17 intervals drilled without coring penetrated 81.6 m. Cores described today (27F–56F) are alternating nannofossil-rich calcareous ooze, sand, silt, silty clay, and silt. These sediments extend well into the late Miocene. Formation temperature measurements (APCT-3) were made while taking Cores 52F and 74F (301.9 m and 406.4 m). The latter of these broke the record for the deepest piston core formation temperature measurement ever obtained that was set at our last site.
Daily Science Report for 19 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451A (8°0.4195′N, 88°44.5012′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we penetrated 166.2 m of section in Hole U1451A. Cores 24H–30H extended from 131.0 to 197.5 m (66.5 m) and recovered 58.55 m of core (88%). The core liner of the last two APC cores failed, so we switched to the half-length APC (HLAPC) system. The rest of the day was spent deepening the hole from 187.5 to 297.2 m with an alternating series of HLAPC cores and 4.8 m advances without coring. The 11 HLAPC cores from this interval (31F–51F), cored 51.7 m of section and recovered 47.5 m (92%). All HLAPC cores were partial strokes, except for Core 43F. These cores extend back to the latest Miocene. Cores described today (down to 26H) are all nannofossil-rich calcareous ooze; a thin ash layer is observed in Core 26H. Formation temperature measurements (APCT-3) were made while taking Cores 29H and 52F (188.0 m and 301.9 m). Core orientation measurements were made while taking Cores 24H–30H.
Daily Science Report for 18 February 2015
Location: Hole U1451A (8°0.4195′N, 88°44.5012′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we APC cored continuously with both the full and half-length systems. Cores 6H–9H, 10F–21F, and 22H–23H penetrated from 34.7 to 131.0 m (96.3 m) and recovered 95.34 m of core (99%). Cores described today include silty sand, silty clay, and sand that overlie a series of calcareous oozes alternating with intervals of fine sand, silt and silty clay. A couple of ash layers were also observed in this interval. These cores extend back to the early Pleistocene. Formation temperature measurements (APCT-3) were made while taking Cores 7H, 10H, and 13H (46.3 m, 55.6 m, and 69.7 m); orientation was attempted on the full-length APC cores.
Daily Science Report for 17 February 2015
Location: Hole U1450A (MBF-2A; 8°0.4201′N, 87°40.2478′E, 3655.3 mbsl)
Transit to Site U1451 (MBF-3A)
Hole U1451A (8°0.4200′N, 88°44.5020′E, 3607.3 mbsl)
Science Update: After retrieving the drill string, the thrusters were raised, the ship was secured, and we departed Site U1450 at 0448 h. After a 64 nmi transit at 10.7 kt, we arrived at Site U1451 (MBF-3A) at 1018 h. We assembled the APC/XCB bottom-hole assembly, lowered it to the seafloor, and started coring in Hole U1451A at 1810 h. Cores U1451A-1H to 5H extended to 34.7 m and were advanced by recovery. In the first three cores described, Pleistocene calcareous nannofossil ooze with a volcanic ash layer and <1 cm thin radiolarian rich interbeds overlies clayey silt and silty clay. A formation temperature measurement (APCT-3) was made while taking Core 4H.
Daily Science Report for 16 February 2015
Location: Hole U1450A (MBF-2A; 8°0.4201′N, 87°40.2478′E, 3655.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we penetrated 67.6 m of formation from 619.8 to 687.4 m. We cored 62.8 m of this section with the XCB and HLAPC systems (except for a single 4.8 m interval that was drilled without coring). XCB Cores 129X (619.8–628.2 m) and 132X–136X (637.7–686.3 m) penetrated 57.0 m and recovered 6.47 m of core (11%). Two half-length APC cores, 130F (628.2–632.9 m) and 137F (686.3–687.4 m), penetrated 5.8 m and recovered 4.05 m (70%). We decided to terminate operations in Hole U1450A after this last APC core (again the deepest penetration piston core obtained in scientific ocean drilling). We felt that recovering core down to the 900 m target objective and obtaining good wireline logs would be better achieved by drilling a new RCB hole at this site later in the expedition. Cores described today recovered nannofossil calcareous ooze, silty fine sand, clay with silty clay, clay; the deepest core recovered silt and sand with silty clay and a slurry of pieces of chalk mixed with clay. Biostratigraphic analyses are ongoing, but the section we cored today extends back into the late Miocene (based on nannofossils).
In Hole U1450, we cored a total of 444.7 m and recovered 282.73 m of core (64%). This included 71 HLAPC cores (318.3 m cored, 245.39 m recovered, 77%), five APC cores (31.7 m cored, 21.98 m recovered, 69%), and 10 XCB cores (94.7 m cored, 15.36 m recovered, 16%).
Daily Science Report for 15 February 2015
Location: Hole U1450A (MBF-2A; 8°0.4201′N, 87°40.2478′E, 3655.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we penetrated 83.4 m of formation from 536.4 to 619.8 m. This advance started with four half-length APC (HLAPC) cores that cored 15.3 m of section and recovered 7.56 m of core (49% recovery; Cores 114F–118F). This interval also included two 4.8 m advances without coring. Since we had some difficulty getting the HLAPC to penetrate into the formation on the deepest of these HLAPC cores, we decided to switch to the extended core barrel (XCB) system. Cores 120X–123X penetrated cored 37.7 m (561.3–599.0 m) and recovered 8.89 m (24%). Since the penetration rate substantially increased while cutting the last part of Core 123X, we inferred that the formation had likely changed back sand. So we switched back to HLAPC coring, as it was the most likely system to be able to recover sands. The day ended with an alternating series of HLAPC cores and 4.8 m advances without coring. Cores 124F, 126F, and 128F penetrated 11.2 m of formation and recovered 8.89 m (85%). Each of these HLAPC cores set new records for the deepest penetration piston core in scientific ocean drilling. Cores described today recovered a sequence of alternating nannofossil-rich calcareous ooze, sand, silty sand, silt, and clayey silt. Biostratigraphic analyses are ongoing, but the section we cored today extends back into the mid-Pliocene.
Daily Science Report for 14 February 2015
Location: Hole U1450A (MBF-2A; 8°0.4201′N, 87°40.2478′E, 3655.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we penetrated 151.8 m of formation from 384.6 to 536.4 m. Except for the first four half-length APC cores (HLAPC) that cored continuously from 384.6 to 403.4 m, the remaining section consisted of an alternating series of 4.7 m long half-length APC cores (HLAPC) followed by 4.8 m advances without coring; the full APC coring system could not penetrate the formation and the XCB system would not recover any core. Eighteen HLAPC cores (Cores U1450A-81F to 112F) penetrated 84.6 m of this 151.8 m section and recovered 58.57 m of core (70%). Fourteen 4.8 m long intervals advanced without coring penetrated a total of 67.2 m. Cores described today range from nannofossil calcareous ooze with laminated silt to fine silty sand, silty clay, and sand. Lower parts of most of the cores are impacted by coring disturbance (flow-in). Biostratigraphic analyses are ongoing, but the bottom of the section we cored today extends back into the late Pliocene.
Daily Science Report for 13 February 2015
Location: Hole U1450A (MBF-2A; 8°0.4201′N, 87°40.2478′E, 3655.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we penetrated 175.7 m of formation from 208.9 to 384.6 m. We continued to deepen the hole by an alternating series of 4.7 m long half-length APC cores (HLAPC) followed by 4.8 m advances without coring; the full APC coring system could not penetrate the formation and the XCB system would not recover any core. Cores U1450A-44F to 80F penetrated 89.3 m of this 175.7 m section and recovered 74.85 m of core (84%). The eighteen 4.8 m long intervals advanced without coring penetrated a total of 86.4 m. Cores described today range from nannofossil calcareous ooze with laminated silt (Cores 36F, 46F, and 52F) to fine silty sand, silty clay, and sand (Cores 38F–44F and 48F–50F). Lower parts of most of the cores are impacted by coring disturbance (flow-in). Biostratigraphic analyses are ongoing, but we may have passed into the early Pleistocene in Core 74F. We used the APCT-3 tool to make a formation temperature measurement at 318.1 m while taking Core U1450A-66F; this is likely the deepest APC formation temperature measurement ever obtained.
Daily Science Report for 12 February 2015
Location: Hole U1450A (MBF-2A; 8°0.4201′N, 87°40.2478′E, 3655.3 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we penetrated 122.6 m of formation from 86.3 to 208.9 m. Due to the nature of the formation and overall science objectives, we cored this section primarily by taking a 4.7 m long half-length APC core (HLAPC) followed by a 4.8 m advance without coring; the full APC coring system could not penetrate the formation and the XCB system would not recover any core. Cores U1450A-18F to 42F cored 71.9 m of this 122.6 m of formation and recovered 59.82 m of core (83%). Only two full-length APC cores were attempted (22H and 24H) and recovered only 3.35 m of core. Ten 4.8 m intervals and one 2.7 m interval were advanced without coring, penetrating a total of 50.7 m. Cores described today are all silty sand, silty fine sand with clay (some with mud clasts), fine sand, sand, and silt with thin clay interbeds, except for the last core described (34F) which is nannofossil ooze with thin silt beds. Micropaleontologic analyses are ongoing and challenging, but these cores are middle to late Pleistocene. We conducted formation temperature measurements while taking four cores (17F, 24H, 32F, and 36F).
Daily Science Report for 11 February 2015
Location: Hole U1450A (MBF-2A; 8°0.4201′N, 87°40.2478′E, 3655.3 mbsl)
Science Update: We spudded Hole U1450A at 0255 h and the mudline core established the seafloor at 3655.3 mbsl. Cores U1450A-1H to 17F extended from the seafloor to 86.3 m, cored 71.9 m of section, and recovered 53.05 m of core (74%). The first three cores were taken with the full-length APC system; the remainder were taken with the half-length APC system (HLAPC). Three short (4.8 m) intervals were advanced without coring. After a short surficial interval of calcareous ooze, the remainder of the core is dominated by silt and silty clay (mud turbidites) and sand (mostly soupy and disturbed by coring). The sand contains mica and occasionally wood debris. Preliminary biostratigraphy indicates sediments recovered so far are late Pleistocene.
Daily Science Report for 10 February 2015
Location: Site U1449 (MBF-6A; 8°0.4194′S, 88°6.5994′W; 3652.7 mbsl)
Transit to Site U1450 (MBF-2A)
Site U1450 (MBF-2A; 8°0.42′N, 87°40.25′E, 3682 mbsl)
Science Update: After finishing coring in Hole U1449A, we offset the ship 20 m to the east and obtained a single mudline core in Hole U1449B for high-resolution microbiological and geochemical sampling (Core U1449B-1H, 0–7.9 m CSF-A, 100% recovery). We then retrieved the drill string, secured the rig floor, and started the short transit to Site U1450 (MBF-2A) at 1530 h. We arrived at Site U1450 at 1830 h, started assembling the bottom-hole assembly, and by midnight the bit had been lowered to 3014 m below the rig floor. At the midday crossover, the scientists met to share their initial results from Site U1449.
Daily Science Report for 9 February 2015
Location: Hole U1449A (MBF-6A; 8°0.4194′S, 88°6.5994′W; 3652.7 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we continued applying both APC systems and the XCB coring system to penetrate and recover core in Hole U1449A. Cores 19H–21H penetrated 15.9 m (97.5–113.4 m CSF-A) and recovered 15.99 m of core (101%). However the latter two of these cores were only partial strokes and were advanced by recovery. We switched to the half-length APC and Cores 22F–31F penetrated 43.1 m (113.4–156.5 m CSF-A) and recovered 45.33 m; the last two were only partial strokes. These cores contain gray clays with thin to medium thick (1–10 cm) interbeds of dark gray silt (succession of mud turbidites) underlain by dark gray fine sand with mica. As the formation appeared to be too firm for full APC coring, and achieving our primary objective of obtaining deeper samples would take much longer with the HLAPC, we switched to the XCB coring system. Cores 32X–36X penetrated 48.5 m (156.5–205.0 m CSF-A). The only recovery from these cores (1.17 m; 2% recovery) was dark gray silty clay. We then switched back to APC coring, first with half-length APC Core 37F that penetrated from 205.0 to 209.7 m CSF-A and recovered 4.79 m (102%), and finally with full-length APC Core 38H that only partially stroked out from 209.7 to 213.5 m CSF-A and recovered 3.87 m of core. These cores recovered dark gray fine sand with mica underlain by gray clays with thin interbeds of dark gray silt with some nannofossil ooze and sand. Sediments reach back to the middle Pleistocene. Since we (a) had achieved a substantial part of this site’s objectives, (b) had exceeded the operational time allocated for this site, and (c) have many high priority expedition objectives remaining, we decided to not to spend any more time attempting to sample to the full 300 m originally planned.
Daily Science Report for 8 February 2015
Location: Hole U1449A (MBF-6A; 8°0.4194′S, 88°6.5994′W; 3652.7 mbsl)
Science Update: Today we had to use a variety of coring systems to penetrate and recover core in Hole U1449A. First, we drilled 1 m without coring through a hard layer (9.9–10.9 m CSF-A) and then XCB cored to 17 m without any recovery. We then used both piston coring systems and penetrated 22.5 m (17.0–39.5 m CSF-A; Cores 5H, 6F, 7H, and 8H) and recovered 18.3 m of core (82%). Core 9H did not penetrate the formation, so we switched to XCB coring and Cores 10X–12X extended from 39.5–68.4 m CSF-A but recovered only 0.86 m (3%). We switched back to the half-length APC system (HLAPC), and Cores 13F–17F penetrated 19.6 m of formation (68.4–88.0 m CSF-A) and recovered 20.03 m (102%). For the last core of the day, we switched back to the full-length APC system and Core 18H (88.0–97.5 m CSF-A) recovered 9.03 m (97%). Overall, we today we cored 86.6 m of formation and recovered 48.24 m (56%). These cores consist of Pleistocene silty fine sand, silty clay, and some clay.
Daily Science Report for 7 February 2015
Location: In transit to the Bengal Fan
Science Update: We arrived at Site U1449 (MBF-6A) at 0623 h. After assembling the bit and bottom-hole assembly—including verifying the correct space-out of the core barrel—we started lowering it to the seafloor. In the middle of the day, Tilmann Schwenk (via videoconference from Bremen, Germany) introduced the scientists to the seismic stratigraphy of the Site U1444 that was cored further north on the Bengal Fan during the previous Expedition 353. This was followed by a Chief Scientist introduction to the seismic stratigraphy of Site U1444 and overall Bengal Fan sedimentary processes. After a failed first attempt APC core (the shear pins did not break), Hole U1449A was spudded at 2125 h. Core 354-U1449-1H recovered 6.27 m and established the seafloor at 3652.7 mbsl. This core is dominated by silty clay with foraminifers with silty fine sand, and also contains a few thin layers of silty clay and a 43 cm thick ash layer.
Daily Science Report for 6 February 2015
Location: In transit to the Bengal Fan
Science Update: Scientists and IODP staff continued preparing the laboratories in advance of our arrival at Site U1449 (MBF-6A). Each laboratory team submitted their draft methods and we have nearly finished our plan for sampling cores for shipboard analyses and obtaining samples for personal research from the first site. The Chief Scientists, key IODP staff, and ship’s crew met to review the coring and logging plan for the first few sites. The IODP Operations Superintendent gave the last tour of the rig floor and coring tools, which the scientists completely enjoyed. We should arrive at Site U1449 tomorrow morning.
Daily Science Report for 5 February 2015
Location: In transit to the Bengal Fan
Science Update: Scientists and IODP staff continued preparing the laboratories in advance of our arrival at Site U1449 (MBF-6A). The IODP Assistant Laboratory Officers and Curator gave the scientists an orientation to core processing, sampling, and sample data entry. The IODP Operations Superintendent gave the first two tours of the rig floor and coring tools. The scientists continued working in research groups to finalize working plans for personal sampling (shipboard and postcruise). Today we covered 302 nmi at 12.6 kt. Our ETA for Site U1449 is now estimated to be 0700 h on 7 February.
Daily Science Report for 4 February 2015
Location: In transit to the Bengal Fan through the Malacca Strait
Science Update: Scientists and IODP staff continued preparing the laboratories in advance of our arrival at Site U1449 (MBF-6A). The IODP Operations Superintendent gave the scientists an orientation to drilling and coring tools. The scientists then spent the rest of the day working in research groups to finalize working plans for personal sampling (shipboard and postcruise). Today we covered 300 nmi at about 12 kt in very calm seas. Our ETA for Site U1449 is estimated to be 1200 h on 7 February.
Daily Science Report for 3 February 2015
Location: Loyang port, Singapore
Science Update: We departed Singapore at 1048 h. After the harbor pilot departed at 1202 h, we began our transit through the Malacca Strait. In the afternoon, the second half of the Bengal Fan expedition scientists explained their individual research objectives and then the laboratory groups met to continue preparing their instruments, methods, sampling plans, and workflow.
Daily Science Report for 2 February 2015
Location: Loyang port, Singapore
Science Update: The morning kicked off with half of the Bengal Fan expedition scientists explaining their individual research objectives. The Education Officers then gave an overview of their planned activities and opportunities for involvement to the scientists. The morning ended with the Chief Scientists presenting the expedition science to the IODP-JRSO staff. After our first fire and boat drill and anti-piracy security drill, all scientists and staff were given the rest of the afternoon off as it was our last day before departing Singapore. The final port call activities included loading life rafts and the remainder of fresh food and dry goods, securing the ship for heading out to sea, and preparing for installation of a new core line.
Daily Science Report for 1 February 2015
Location: Loyang port, Singapore
Science Update: Today, the IODP staff started introducing the scientists to the workflow, instrument systems, and software in their laboratories, as well as the overall science core flow. Port call activities continued today with loading of three core liner boxes, three flats of drilling equipment, as well as frozen/refrigerated food and dry stores. Ship tours were given for geology faculty and undergraduate students from Nanyang Technological University. We anticipate departing Loyang ~0930 h on 3 February.
Daily Science Report for 31 January 2015
Location: Arrived at Loyang port, Singapore
Science Update: After all scientists and IODP-JRSO technical staff were introduced to each other, the Chief Scientists kicked off the expedition with a presentation of the expedition science objectives. In the afternoon, the Captain introduced key staff and gave the overall ship safety orientation. The IODP Expedition Project Manager then gave the scientists an orientation to what we are going to accomplish during the expedition and how we are going to do it. Port call activities continued today with loading of the drilling mud, fueling of the ship, a variety of shipments to/from the ship, and tours for a group of Texas A&M alumni from Singapore and journalism students from Nanyang Technological University. We anticipate departing Loyang ~0930 h on 3 February.
Daily Science Report for 30 January 2015
Location: Arrived at Loyang port, Singapore
Science Update: At 0600 h, the pilot boarded the ship and we started the short 9 nmi transit to Loyang port. The first line ashore at 0820 h marked the end of the Indian Monsoon Expedition (353) and the start of the Bengal Fan Expedition (354). Today’s port call activities included the boarding of the Bengal Fan scientists, ship operator crew change, offloading of the Expedition 353 core and sample shipments, as well as a variety of shipments from and to the ship. The Bengal Fan scientists got settled in their rooms, were introduced to life on board, and then given an initial safety orientation, laboratory tours, and an introduction to the information technology on the ship.
Daily Science Report for 29 January 2015
Location: Anchored outside of Loyang port, Singapore
Science Update: We are not able to proceed to the dock in Loyang and are anchored outside the port. The ship currently occupying our berth has a mechanical problem and our arrival is now scheduled for tomorrow (30 January). In the late afternoon, water taxis were used to disembark the Indian Monsoon Expedition (353) scientists and JOIDES Resolution Science Operator (JRSO) staff. The Bengal Fan Expedition (354) Chief Scientists and JRSO staff also boarded the ship by water taxi.