The IDP Eclipse Drills are modified Eclipse Drills originally manufactured by Icefield Instruments, Inc. The drill is an electromechanical system capable of collecting 81 mm (3.2-inch) diameter core to depths of approximately 300 meters. The drill system is transportable by small aircraft or helicopter. IDP has two Eclipse Drill systems that it regularly deploys.
In 2013, IDP designed and fabricated a solar and wind power system for use with the drill, which has proven useful at field sites where environmental impact is of concern and where use of a generator is not desirable or permitted. In 2017, IDP completed a redesign of the aging control boxes and readout boxes to provide simplified operation, weight reduction and new sealed cases. In 2018, new cover panels were implemented for the traversing system. New cases were also procured for the motor section and tower frame. New load pins and load pin amplifiers were implemented to make the load sense circuit more robust. Beneficial updates were made to the Operations and Maintenance Manual and minor maintenance is performed between field seasons.
Two Eclipse Drills are available for use. One is referred to as the ‘standard’ Eclipse Drill and the other as the ‘traversing’ Eclipse Drill, since it is sled-mounted. IDP has traditionally deployed the Eclipse Drills with Mountain Hardwear Space Station tents, but after experiencing stability issues during high winds, IDP is currently testing a new inflatable tent by Axion.
Equipment Details
| Name | Eclipse Drill |
|---|---|
| Type |
Type
Ice coring
|
| Number in Inventory |
Number in Inventory
2
|
| Max. Practical Depth |
Max. Practical Depth
300 m
|
| Hole Diameter |
Hole Diameter
113 mm (4.4 inches)
|
| Ice Core Diameter |
Ice Core Diameter
81 mm (3.2 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 kW generator or Solar and wind power system
|
| Estimated Drilling Time |
Estimated Drilling Time
100 m - 60 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
1300 lbs |
| Shipping Volume (Cube) |
Shipping Cube
70 |
| Comments |
Documents
| Citation | Year |
|---|---|
| NSF Ice Drilling Program (2024) Eclipse Drill Operations and Maintenance Manual. 1-62. | 2024 |
| Pavel Talalay, Xiaopeng Fan, Zhichuan Zheng, Jun Xue, Pinlu Cao, Nan Zhang, Rusheng Wang, Dahui Yu, Chengfeng Yu, Yunlong Zhang, Qi Zhang, Kai Su, Dongdong Yang, Jiewei Zhan (2014) Anti-torque systems of electromechanical cable-suspended drills and test results. Annals of Glaciology, 55, (68), 207-218. doi: 10.3189/2014AoG68A025. https://doi.org/10.3189/2014AoG68A025 | 2014 |
| Vladimir Aizen, Christine Foreman, Andrei Kurbatov, Erich Osterberg, Eric J Steig (2011) 10 year plan for Shallow Coring Capabilities (1-400 m deep). 2011 Ice Drilling Science Community Planning Workshop, April 15-16, 2011, Herndon, Virginia, USA, 1-5. | 2011 |
| Erik W Blake, Cameron P Wake, Michael D Gerasimoff (1998) The ECLIPSE drill: a field-portable intermediate-depth ice-coring drill. Journal of Glaciology, 44, (146), 175-178. doi: 10.3189/S0022143000002471. https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000002471 | 1998 |
Photos
Drilling tent and Eclipse Drill in operation at a snowy Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2015-2016 summer field season. Credit: Mike Waszkiewicz
The Eclipse Drill at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2015-2016 summer field season. Credit: Yuzhan Yan
A solar and wind power system in use for Eclipse drilling in Denali National Park during the 2013 field season. Credit: Mike Waszkiewicz
Mike Waszkiewicz (left) and Brad Markle (right) inside the drill tent with the Eclipse Drill during the 2013 field season at Mt. Hunder, Denali National Park, Alaska. Credit: Dominic Winski
Michael Jayred (left) and Elizabeth Morton (right) work with the Eclipse Drill at WAIS Divide, Antarctica. Credit: Logan Mitchell
IDP driller Lou Albershardt operates the Eclipse Drill at Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica, during the 2010-2011 summer field season. Credit: Howard Conway
(L to R) John Higgins, Melissa Rohde and Mike Waszkiewicz work with the Eclipse Drill at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2010-2011 summer field season. Credit: Melissa Rohde
John Higgins (left) and Melissa Rohde (right) work with the Eclipse Drill at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2010-2011 summer field season. Credit: Mike Waszkiewicz
One of the shallow drill sites at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2009-2010 summer field season. Credit: Mike Waszkiewicz
(L to R) John Higgins, Nicole Spaulding and Andrei Kurbatov approach a shallow drill site at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2009-2010 summer field season. Credit: Mike Waszkiewicz
One of the shallow drill sites at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2009-2010 summer field season. Credit: Mike Waszkiewicz
Mike Waszkiewicz (right) drills with the Eclipse Drill while John Higgins (left) packs core at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2009-2010 summer field season. Credit: Andrei Kurbatov
Mike Waszkiewicz (right) drills with the Eclipse Drill while John Higgins (left) packs core at Allan Hills, Antarctica, during the 2009-2010 summer field season. Credit: Andrei Kurbatov
IDP driller Lou Albershardt operates the Eclipse Drill during the Norwegian-U.S. traverse of East Antarctica. Credit: Stein Tronstad
Eclipse drilling outside of Summit Station, Greenland, during the 2013 field season. Credit: Tanner Kuhl
Project History
| 2024-2025 Antarctic - Center for OLDest Ice Exploration (COLDEX) |
| 2024-2025 Antarctic - Collaborative Research: Constraining West Antarctic Ice Sheet Elevation during the last Interglacial |
| 2024-2025 Antarctic - Collaborative Research: EAGER: Dating Glacier Retreat and Readvance near Mount Waesche, West Antarctica |
Complete unit operating ~800 lbs. Heaviest component is the winch (on sled) 400 lbs. Winch control box 250 lbs.