Thermal hole opener

Oceanographic Services, Inc. (OSI) has recently developed a technique for cutting large holes in sea ice. The Thermal Hole Opener (THO) has been successfully used in support of under ice remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, and for scientific equipment deployment in the central Arctic. The THO quickly cuts an ice block of several square metres cross-section. Thickness of penetration is limited only by the length of risers used. A heated cutting frame, easily modified into any desired hole shape, melts a continuous 25 mm wide slot vertically through the ice. Heated fluid from a propane-fired boiler is circulated through the cutting frame in a closed-loop system. Penetration rates of 3 m/h have been achieved. The large ice core is easily sectioned with a chain saw into manageable chunks. The THO is portable, inexpensive, and effective for making large holes in ice.