The present capabilities of the dhllship, while impressive, are limited. The ship is not able to 

 drill in any situation where uncontrollable flow might occur in the well bore. This limitation is 

 due to the lacl< of a riser and well control system. The drillship was chosen because of its ability 

 to support these systems, but they are not presently installed. The JOIDES planning structure 

 has begun to investigate scientific opportunities presented by the addition of a marine riser and 

 well control system. Initiation of engineering studies and equipment acquisition Is expected to 

 require $1 .1 M in FY 1 989 and $2M In FY 1 990. In FY 1 991 , shipyard and material 

 acquisition costs are estimated to be $10M. A riser drilling program starting In FY 1992 Is 

 expected to have an Incremental cost over standard operations costs of $5M Initially Increasing 

 to $6.2M by FY 1996. Because ODP costs are shared by the U.S. and the International partners, 

 the U.S.-appropriated funds required for this initiative are approximately 55% of the total or 

 $0.6M in FY 1 989; $1 .1 M in FY 1 990; $5.5M in FY 1 991 ; and $2.8M in FY 1 992, increasing 

 to$3.4MinFY1996 



III. Funding Requirements 



Summary budgets for international operations, core programs for science support, and areas of 

 critical need for future advances are included in Table E of Section IV. 



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