Chikyu
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The Chikyu is among the flag from Japan traveling to research purposes employed drillship . The operator is the Center of Deep Earth Exploration (CDEX) in cooperation with the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).
Technology and equipment
The drive is diesel-electric by six propeller pods with fixed propellers driven by electric motors, each with 4,200 kW power . Three propeller gondolas are located at the stern of the ship, three more in the bow area. All six drives can be rotated 360 °. In addition, there is also an electrically driven cross-flow control system with an output of 2,550 kW.
For power generation, six generators driven by Mitsui diesel engines (type: 12ADD30V) with 5,270 kW power each with 6,250 kVA apparent power and two auxiliary generators driven by Mitsui diesel engines (type: 6ADD30V) with 2,640 kW power each with 3,125 kVA apparent power are available. The emergency generator is powered by a Mitsubishi diesel engine with 600 kW. It has an apparent power of 700 kVA.
There is a helicopter platform in the front area of the ship . Another striking feature is the 130 m high, voluminous drilling tower, which is used to manipulate drilling and cladding pipes and sometimes also the drill drive.
Using a system for dynamic positioning (DP) , the Chikyū can hold its position even under adverse environmental conditions - against wind, waves and ocean currents.
In the middle of the fuselage there is a shaft through which the drill rods, ducts, riser pipes and blow out preventers are drained.
The hull of the ship is reinforced with ice ( ice class IB).
The Chikyū has a range of over 14,800 nautical miles . It can be used in water up to 2,500 m deep.
Up to 200 people can be accommodated on board the ship.
Research goals
A multi-stage drilling process, most recently using drilling mud , which is brought back up to the ship via a riser pipe and recycled after the drilling material has been separated, should succeed in penetrating 7,000 m deep into the sea floor in order to penetrate the comparatively thin oceanic crust .
Drill cores are extracted, divided into 1.5 m long pieces and cut lengthways. Optical, magnetic and chemical tests are carried out, material samples are taken and the drill cores are stored in a cool place.
One goal of the research with international participation of geologists, geochemists, geophysicists and geopalaeontologists is a precise earthquake prediction, which has not been possible to date. In addition to examining the drill cores, sensors are left in the borehole that record seismic activities and temperature.
Another goal is to research methane hydrates as a possible future fossil fuel source for Japan.
Web links
- Ship information , Mantle Quest Japan
- Scientific Deep Sea Drilling and Coring Technology. In: YouTube . jamstecchannel, November 12, 2013(animation: drilling methods, extraction and analysis of drill cores.).
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Specification. Mantle Quest Japan, accessed August 2, 2019 .