Drilling, construction, geophysical data, and lithologic log for borehole USGS 144

In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), drilled and constructed borehole USGS 144 (433021112552501) for stratigraphic framework analyses and water quality monitoring at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), located in southeastern Idaho. Borehole USGS 144 was continuously cored from approximately 4 to 639 ft below land surface (BLS). The final construction depth, after reaming out cored section of the well, is 620 ft BLS.

The USGS INL Project Office drilling team performed the core drilling operations and well construction between August 22, 2016, to December 7, 2016. The USGS collected geophysical data, daily drilling notes, and prepared detailed core descriptions for core collected to 639 ft BLS, which are included as part of this data release. The USGS INL Project Office collected geophysical logs on November 16, 28 and 30, 2016. Geophysical data include natural gamma, temperature, specific conductance, acoustic televiewer (ATV), neutron, neutron porosity, and gamma-gamma density logs which were examined synergistically with available core material to identify contacts between basalt flows, location and thickness of sediment layers, relative changes in porosity, vertical changes in specific conductivity and temperature, and changes in fracture density. 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 (9057A), gamma-gamma density probe (0024A), and gyroscopic deviation probe (9095C), and acoustic televiewer (9804A). With the exception of the 9804A and 9042A logs run inside the open borehole after drill rod was removed geophysical data were collected through the drill rod after reaching total cored depth. All logs were run 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, which are bundled in a single compressed ZIP file, 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 and procedures developed by the USGS INL Project Office which maximizes the description of the core and minimizes any interpretation.