Salton Sea Scientific Drilling Project: Scientific Program

Abstract

State 2-14, the Salton Sea Scientific Drilling Project, was spudded on October 24, 1985, and reached a total depth of 10,564 ft (3.2 km) on March 17, 1986. There followed a period of logging, a flow test, and downhole scientific measurements. The scientific goals were integrated smoothly with the engineering and economic objectives of the program and the ideal of "science driving the drill" in continental scientific drilling projects was achieved in large measure. The principal scientific goals of the project were to study the physical an chemical processes involved in an active, magmatically driven hydrothermal system. To facilitate these studies we attached high priority to four areas of sample and data collection , namely: (1) core and cutting, (2) formation fluids, (3) geophysical logging, (4) downhole physical measurements, particularly temperatures and pressures. In all four areas, the results obtained were sufficient to meet the stated scientific goals.