Continental margin drilling program

Abstract

The initial responses from OMB, Congress, and industry have been overwhelmingly positive in support of a proposed major drilling program along the U.S. offshore coastal areas in deep water.The extensive sedimentary deposits located along the U.S. continental slopes are, as yet, unexplored. There have been numerous suggestions that there is a significant potential for extensive reserves of hydrocarbons, but these suggestions are largely speculative. At the same time, there is a great amount of scientific interest in the geology of the continental margins, so it has been logical in recent months to propose a combined scientific and commercial study offshore. Such a proposal is being made to Congress by the National Science Foundation for the purpose of obtaining funds to convert the government‐owned Glomar Explorer (the ship that was originally built for the use of the C.I.A.) into a vessel capable of performing deep drilling operations and for other costs of running the program over the next 10 years. Industry is being approached to contribute 50% of the costs.