Drilling Under the Sea

prof_peabody writes "The IODP (Intergrated Ocean Drilling Program) is about to get rolling in a couple of days. If you live in one of these countries then your tax dollars have contributed to the construction of the giant drillship Chikyu, which was launched a little while back (project timeline). The American contigent website is loaded with info and obligatory acronyms. The first leg of the IODP will investigate how water flows through rock formations beneath the seafloor during an eight-week expedition this summer to the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge off the coast of British Columbia. Some of you geeks with beards may remember the DSDP (Deep Sea Drilling Project) or the recently completed ODP (Ocean Drilling Program). The real advance in the new program that will cost well over a billion dollars is the IODP riser drill ship that 'will provide a way to drill into continental margins where oil and gas deposits can cause drilling safety concerns and into regions with thick sediment sections, fault zones, and unstable formations.' A good overview of the IODP can be found here, and the necessary references to Megalodon and none other than The Core."

Why would you say that?!

[P-Frank]

Is it completely necessary to reference The Core? It makes me remember it all over again. My poor, feeble mind will implode if I even try to comprehend the physics behind that film, let alone the acting. Oh god, the acting...

Diamonds?

[N4DMX]

What if there really are big diamonds like in The Core? It would be odd seeing a forklift wheeling out the back room of the jeweler's bearing a single engagement ring.

ob simpsons quote

[Anonymous Coward]

Under the sea
Under the sea
There'll be no accusations
Just friendly crustaceans
Under the sea!

Re:Diamonds?

[Mycroft_VIII]

Yeah, but what are odds she'd say no after see-ing a ring bigger than her? And the odds of NOT jumping off a very tall place if she did say no.

Mycroft

Nigerian Ships

[Anonymous Coward]

Here in Nigeria (!) we are developing deep space mining ships and your money will help us continue our secret space mining program...

Cthulhu Fhtagn!

[dbirchall]

Finally, a ship they can use to seek out and disturb R'lyeh...

Re:ob simpsons quote2

[da3dAlus]

"Homer, your answer to everything is under the sea!"

Re:Cthulhu Fhtagn!

[dasunt]

Finally, a ship they can use to seek out and disturb R'lyeh...

Wouldn't that be a positive change in leadership?

As a bonus, consider what will happen when the RIAA/MPAA sends lobbiests to plead for a new restrictive law? No more lobbiests and the bill isn't passed.

I'm really not seeing a downside.

intergrated?

[denjin]

Is that newspeak for "I can't use a dictionary"?

Re:Chikyu is Japanese for...

[B4RSK]

Sooo.....You'd be one of the ones without film then.

Re:Diamonds?

[Omega1045]

What if there really are big diamonds like in The Core? It would be odd seeing a forklift wheeling out the back room of the jeweler's bearing a single engagement ring.

Sounds like Jo Lo's next wedding ring (after divorcing her current husband).

Re:Why would you say that?!

[torpor]

I saw that film in German. You think the physics and bad acting are bad, see it in German.

Nothing says "this stinks and is a total waste of my godamn time" more than seeing any film, even B-grade trash, in German.

great...

[Anonymous Coward]

...let's go ahead and f***-up the oceans, BEFORE we understand them....just like the way we did the rest of our Earth.

Re:Diamonds?

[cynic10508]

The more you spend on diamonds, the more empty headed you are.

Or well trained by your significant other.