Drilling, construction, geophysical data, and lithologic logs for borehole USGS 152

In 2019 and 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for Naval Reactors Laboratory Field Office or Naval Reactors Facility (NRF), drilled and constructed borehole USGS 152 (433906112553401) for seismic and stratigraphic framework analyses at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) near the NRF, located in southeastern Idaho. Borehole USGS 152 was continuously cored from approximately 19 to 1,259 ft below land surface (BLS) and rotary drilled from approximately 1,259 to 1,630 ft BLS. Core drilling was discontinued after 1,259 ft BLS and changed over to straight rotary drilling due to funding constraints and deadlines.

Core logs are displayed for three borings (USGS 152, USGS 152A, and USGS 152B) that all originate from the same surface location. To allow collection of open hole geophysical logs, the borehole was cemented and drilled out to stabilize difficult sections. Following cementing, the borehole cement was redrilled; however, on two separate occasions this resulted in a separate borehole core. At the onset of a new borehole, core was collected, and the borehole was given a subsequent name (USGS 152A and USGS 152B). Some overlap in cores was noted along with core depths and drilling dates. Core recovered from USGS 152 include depths from 18.5 to 749.0 ft between September 23, 2019 to July 5, 2020 with a hiatus during winter; USGS 152A was cored from 679.5 to 1007.0 ft between July 6, 2020 and August 20, 2020; USGS 152B was cored from 889.5 to 1259 ft between August 21, 2020 and October 3, 2020. The USGS collected select geophysical data, daily drilling notes, and prepared detailed core descriptions for core collected to 1,259 ft BLS, which are included as part of this data release. Also included are drilling field notes from INL subcontractor WOOD. The USGS Research Drilling Program (RDP) performed the core drilling operations and well construction between September 23, 2019, to October 3, 2020; additionally, the USGS RDP collected geophysical data, a single mechanical caliper (caliper) log on September 28, 2020.

The USGS INL Project Office collected multiple geophysical logs on September 22, 2020. Select geophysical data include natural gamma, caliper, neutron, neutron porosity, and gamma-gamma density logs which were examined synergistically with available core material to identify contacts between basalt flows and location and thickness of sediment layers. Additionally, a gyroscopic deviation survey was performed and analyzed to reflect the projected well bore path. Geophysical data were collected using Century™ multi-parameter logging probes and select logs are displayed in well log figures. Geophysical data shown in figure displays include the natural gamma and neutron probe (9055C), caliper probe (9065A), gamma-gamma density probe (0024C), and gyroscopic deviation probe (9095C). With the exception of the caliper log which was ran though the encased borehole, all geophysical data were collected through the drill rod. All logs were ran from the bottom-up after reaching total unobstructed depth. Geophysical log data not represented in figure displays can be obtained by downloading attached LAS files or by visiting USGS - GeoLog Locator.

Drill core was taken to the USGS Lithologic Core Storage Library for storage and permanent archive located at Central Facilities Area on the INL. Drill core was photographed and described using standardized methods (Johnson and others, 2005). These standardized methods make use of commercially available software that include using a procedure developed by the USGS INL Project Office. The standardized method maximizes description and minimizes interpretation.