The Blue Ice Drill (BID) is an agile drill capable of retrieving cores of approximately 241 mm (9-1/2 inches) in diameter. The BID system was originally designed with a depth capability of 30 m, but was modified in PY 2014 to allow for attempts at deeper coring to 200 m depth at the request of the science community. A new cable winch and tower were implemented in the design as well as several new down-hole components. Depth capability is still largely influenced by site/ice and firn depth characteristics.
A drill tent has allowed operations to continue in poor weather conditions. A new tower was fabricated in 2019 to bear the loads of the tent and allow for safer tent erection than the original BID tripod. IDP made additional modifications to the drill including painting the outer barrels white to reduce solar gain, redesigning the cable termination, fabrication of scoop cutters and work on the crown sheave.
Current Status
The BID is one of IDP’s most requested drills. Several components are aging beyond their useful life and are being replaced. The drill electronics required substantial onsite and remote troubleshooting during the 2023-2024 Antarctic season. In spring 2024, wiring in the winch control box was cleaned up and the mechanical support of the electronics was made more rigid for ruggedness during transport. A new dynamic braking module was also installed. Updates were also made to the drill control box and functionality of the remote switch was removed, greatly simplifying the internal electronics. Carbide cutter holders and inserts are also being designed and fabricated.
IDP is discussing with the science community several approaches for drilling good quality ice core in blue ice, and is conducting a feasibility study in PY 2024 to outline approaches with the highest chances of success. This may include designing a new, large-diameter electromechanical drill or the development of a large-diameter thermal drill.
Technical Issues
Site-specific ice properties such as firn depth, temperature, ice structure, contaminants in ice, as well as the large core diameter and/or mechanical aspects of the drill are all potential factors that may impact core quality.
Equipment Details
| Name | Blue Ice Drill |
|---|---|
| Type |
Type
Ice coring
|
| Number in Inventory |
Number in Inventory
1
|
| Max. Practical Depth |
Max. Practical Depth
25 m (200 m for BID-Deep version*)
|
| Hole Diameter |
Hole Diameter
288 mm (11.3 inches)
|
| Ice Core Diameter |
Ice Core Diameter
241 mm (9.5 inches)
|
| Ice Core Length |
Ice Core Length
1 m
|
| IDP Driller Required? |
IDP Driller Required?
Yes, 1 driller (2 people required for drill operation)
|
| Drill Fluid Required? |
Drill Fluid Required?
No
|
| Power Requirements/Source |
Power Requirements/Source
120 V, 3.5 kW generator (5 kW generator for BID-Deep)
|
| Estimated Drilling Time |
Estimated Drilling Time
10 m - 2 hours 50 m - 12 hours |
| Time to Move (breakdown and setup) |
Time to Move (breakdown and setup)
4 hours
|
| Helicopter Transportable? |
Helicopter Transportable?
Yes
|
| Light Aircraft Transportable? |
Light Aircraft Transportable?
Yes
|
| Shipping Weight |
Shipping Weight
4,300 lbs |
| Shipping Volume (Cube) |
Shipping Cube
270 |
| Restrictions |
Restrictions
* The depth capability of the BID-Deep is largely influenced by site/ice characteristics. The current equipment is likely reaching its operational limits and assuring acceptable core quality at depths of 200 m would require a re-design of the system. * IDP is discussing with the science community several approaches for drilling good quality ice core in blue ice, which may include design and fabrication of a modified BID or the development of a large-diameter thermal drill. |
Documents
| Citation | Year |
|---|---|
| NSF Ice Drilling Program (2024) Blue Ice Drill Operations and Maintenance Manual. 1-44. | 2024 |
| Mary R Albert, Kristina R Slawny, Grant Boeckmann, Chris J Gibson, Jay A Johnson, Keith Makinson, Julius Rix (2020) Recent Innovations in Drilling in Ice. Chapter 6 of Advances in Terrestrial Drilling: Ground, Ice and Underwater, Bar-Cohen and Zacny, eds., 157-220. https://www.routledge.com/Advances-in-Terrestrial-Drilling-Ground-Ice-and-Under… | 2020 |
| Tanner W Kuhl, Jay A Johnson, Alexander J Shturmakov, Joshua J Goetz, Chris J Gibson, Donald A Lebar (2014) A new large-diameter ice-core drill: the Blue Ice Drill. Annals of Glaciology, 55, (68), 1-6. doi: 10.3189/2014AoG68A009. https://doi.org/10.3189/2014AoG68A009 | 2014 |
| Jeffrey P Severinghaus, IDDO (2009) Blue Ice Drill Development: Science Requirements Document. 1-3. | 2009 |
Photos
The drill tent for the BID-Deep system at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2019/20 field season. Credit: Tanner Kuhl
Tanner Kuhl operates the Blue Ice Drill with a new tower at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2019/20 field season. Credit: Jessica Tinker
Interior of the new Blue Ice Drill tent at Law Dome, Antarctica, during the 2018/19 field season. Credit: Peter Neff
Exterior of the new Blue Ice Drill tent at Law Dome, Antarctica, during the 2018/19 field season. Credit: Tanner Kuhl
The Blue Ice Drill at Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, during the 2014/15 field season.
The Blue Ice Drill at Summit, Greenland, during the 2010 field season. Credit: Ben Hmiel
IDP driller Mike Jayred measures an ice core atop of Taylor Glacier during the 2013/14 Antarctic field season. Credit: Peter Rejcek
The Blue Ice Drill at Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, during the 2013/14 field season. Credit: Josh Jetson
Scientist Michael Dyonisius, foreground, assists IDP driller Mike Jayred with drilling an ice core on Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, during the 2013/14 field season. Credit: Peter Rejcek
Scientist Michael Dyonisius, foreground, assists IDP driller Mike Jayred with drilling an ice core on Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, during the 2013/14 field season. Credit: Peter Rejcek
Aerial view of a field camp on Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, where scientists drilled large diameter ice cores via the Blue Ice Drill during the 2013/14 field season. Credit: Peter Rejcek
The Blue Ice Drill at Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, during the 2010/11 field season. Credit: Jeff Severinghaus
The Blue Ice Drill and the drill camp at Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, during the 2010/11 field season. Credit: Tanner Kuhl
Two IDP drillers assemble the Blue Ice Drill at Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, during the 2010/11 field season. Credit: Thomas Bauska
Project History
| 2024-2025 Antarctic - Center for OLDest Ice Exploration (COLDEX) |