U.S. Ice Drilling Program: Equipment

U.S. Ice Drilling Program's inventory of drills, which are available for use by the ice science community

Rapid Air Movement (RAM) Drill

General Summary/Description:	The RAM drill was developed for a seismic experiment in Antarctica. It is a system in which high-velocity air drives rotating cutters and blows the ice chips from the hole. The cutters hang on a hose that carries the air from the surface and is reeled out as the hole deepens. Currently, the RAM Drill can produce 90m deep holes. Typical drilling time for a 60 m hole is less than half an hour. The RAM drill is limited to a maximum depth of 90 m by the current configuration of its hose reel, but in principle it could drill much deeper.
Type:	Non-coring
Maximum Depth Possible:	90 m
Shipping Weight:	22,664 lbs
Cubes:	2971
Comments:	Weight of drill system in operation about 20,000 lbs.