Ocean Drilling Program to generate new tools, technology as spinoffs to the industry

Improvements in ocean engineering and construction, floating drilling technology, and downhole tools have already begun to emerge from Texas AandM's Ocean Drilling Program (ODP). Industry can expect increasing spinoff when drilling begins next month. ODP, using the Sedco/BP 471, is successor to Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) which used the Glomar Challenger. Texas AandM University replaces Scripps Institute as operator. The major thrust of ODP is to gain scientific knowledge of the earth's crust and ocean floor. But for the first time, hardware and technology developments have been mandated in the mission. ODP will develop new tools and technology for deep ocean exploration and drilling. Small diameter downhole motors, coring devices, long drillstring design, re-entry devices, bits, and dynamic positioning reliability will profit from the attention of this undertaking. A hard rock spudding method will be developed from scratch. And new deepwater drilling information will be collected to compliment the geological data.