The Rapid Access Ice Drill (RAID) is a University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) and University of California-San Diego (UCSD) project funded by the National Science Foundation. Design, fabrication, and initial test activities were completed by DOSECC Exploration Services, LLC (DES) in Utah. Subsequent test activities were managed directly by UMD and were carried out by Timberline Drilling Inc. IDP did not directly participate in the design or fabrication of the RAID, however, throughout the process of designing, building, and fielding the RAID, ASIG, and Winkie Drills, the RAID PIs, the DES and Timberline teams, and the IDP engineering and management teams developed a synergistic relationship of benefit to all. While the drill systems differ in scope, size and capability, they share many common characteristics. In March 2015, two IDP engineers and the IDP Program Manager participated and provided advice in the RAID North American Test (NAT) in Utah. Additionally, IDP and DES personnel jointly supported the RAID Auger & Packer Test conducted outside of McMurdo Station in February 2016. During the brief test, IDP and DES engineers worked collaboratively to successfully test both the RAID and ASIG Drill packer devices.
This collaborative relationship continued through deployment of the systems to Antarctica during the 2016-2017 field season, with each organization providing troubleshooting support to the other via phone. The RAID system completed its first Antarctic Field Trial (AFT-1) at Minna Bluff during the 2016-2017 field season. The system was successfully traversed to the Minna Bluff site, set up and operated. However, the firn-ice transition at the site proved to be over twice as deep as expected. This resulted in an insufficient length of augers onsite, and the team was unable to successfully set and seal the packer device. During the following 2017-2018 field season (AFT-2), an IDP engineer was onsite for related coring and logging projects nearby and was invited to view the RAID operations and testing. The RAID team made important progress in sealing the firn-ice transition but was ultimately unable to complete their objective to drill through 700 m of ice at the site and to collect bedrock core below, stemming from the creation of a larger amount of firn cuttings than anticipated, which overwhelmed the fluid circulation system. In early January 2019, an IDP engineer deployed to McMurdo Station to lead planned RAID maintenance efforts. The team of five set up the drill rig and completed modifications and test objectives including repair and testing of the hydraulic system, testing of the Fluid Recirculation System, documentation of operation and winterization procedures, installation and testing of new components, and deployment of a new conductor casing. In addition, the team developed procedural efficiencies to reduce rig set up and take down time.
The RAID system completed its third Antarctic Field Trial (AFT-3) at Minna Bluff during the 2019-2020 field season. UMD contracted with Timberline Drilling Inc. for primary operation of the drill system. The IDP engineer who deployed for the previous maintenance season was again onsite to provide ice drilling expertise and general consultation. Three holes were drilled. The first and third holes were abandoned following hydro-fracture events (the second of which was planned in order to measure pressure at hydro fracture). Bedrock was reached successfully in the second hole, resulting in the first rock core collection using the RAID system. While several challenges were encountered during the season, 1 m of near-basal material was retrieved as well as 3 m of bedrock core from just below the ice-bedrock interface. A summary report of AFT-3 activities and results is provided by Goodge et al. (2021, Annals of Glaciology).
Current Status
Following the AFT-3, the RAID project obtained supplemental funding from the NSF to carry out further upgrades and maintain system readiness for future deployment. A subset of the drilling equipment, including the Fluid Recirculation System (FRS), was returned to the U.S. for maintenance and modification. Much of this work was conducted by Matrix Drilling Products in Lewisburg, TN. Upgrades and modifications to the FRS and related equipment include: (a) design and fabrication of a new fluid swivel and diverter; (b) design and installation of a new automation system; (c) refinement of the shaker; (d) upgrade to the glycol loop in the melting tank; (e) re-routing of hose lines and installation of sight glasses; (f) addition of a centrifugal pump for reverse-circulation drilling; (g) installation of a new door and partition between cold and warm rooms; (h) installation of new ventilation; (i) design and fabrication of improved ice-coring and rock-coring bits; and (j) acquisition of new firn augers. Matrix has completed a functional system test of the FRS and has designed a new drill sensor and driller's control interface. The refurbished FRS is currently stored at the Matrix facility in Tennessee awaiting approval for shipment to Antarctica. Through IDP’s Continuing Award and with NSF approval, an IDP engineer familiar with the RAID system provides periodic advice, feedback and evaluation of engineering proposals. The IDP engineer also periodically travels to either Matrix Drilling Products or the University of Minnesota-Duluth to provide feedback on the modifications being made. Ultimately, the RAID team envisions drilling on the polar plateau in search of the oldest ice and bedrock samples. A second RAID Science Planning Workshop was held in Herndon, VA, on September 25-27, 2024. Principal outcomes of this science planning workshop are provided and future white papers will be available at the RAID project website.