Agile Sub-Ice Geological (ASIG) Drill
The ASIG Drill is capable of drilling through 700 meters of ice, taking pieces of ice core along the way, and then recovering 5- to 6-meters of bedrock core with a diameter of 39 mm. The ASIG Drill is much less logistically intensive than the Rapid Access Ice Drill (RAID) deep drilling system developed by the University of Minnesota Duluth. The ASIG Drill is one of two rock coring drills in the IDDO inventory (see also Winkie Drill).
ASIG Drill in operation at Pirrit Hills, Antarctica, during the 2016-2017 summer field season. Photo: Tanner Kuhl
A section of the 8-meters of rock core collected with the ASIG Drill at Pirrit Hills, Antarctica, during the 2016-2017 summer field season. Photo: Tanner Kuhl
IDDO drillers Clayton Armstrong (at left) and Mike Jayred (at right) operating the ASIG Drill at Pirrit Hills, Antarctica, during the 2016-2017 summer field season. Photo: Tanner Kuhl
Equipment Details
| Name | Agile Sub Ice Geological (ASIG) Drill |
|---|---|
| Type | Rock coring; ice coring/augering |
| Number in Inventory | 1 |
| Max. Depth Drilling Through Ice | 700 m |
| Hole Diameter | 62.5 mm |
| Rock Core Diameter | 39 mm |
| IDDO Driller Required? | Yes, 2 drillers (4 people required for drill assembly) |
| Drill Fluid Required? | Yes |
| Power requirements/source | 120 V, 5 kW generator |
| Estimated Drilling Time | Ice: 1m/minute Rock: 0.15 m/minute rate of penetration |
| Time to move (breakdown and setup) | 2 days |
| Helicopter Transportable? | Yes (see system weight/cube below) |
| Light Aircraft Transportable? | Yes (see system weight/cube below) |
| Trench Required? | No |
| Total System Weight | 19,000 lbs (200 m); 31,000 lbs (700 m) |
| Shipping Cube | 700 |
