Designing the Mohole Logging Unit

There are many unusual considerations to take into account in the design of a well logging winch unit. This particular unit has facilities for use in extraordinarily deep holes. One of the facilities required was a cable speed range of 175:1. This paper shows basic considerations necessary to design such a winching unit.

This unit was designed for Project Mohole, a scientific effort administered by the National Science Foundation to explore and sample the layers of the earth's crust, and the underlying mantle. A giant sea going, floating platform will contain this unit, in addition to the other equipment needed to drill through and explore these layers.