In 2015, community scientists identified the need for a lightweight coring drill, able to be transported by backpack. IDP researched commercially available systems and considered designing a new tool. In the end, a commercially available drilling system was purchased from Icedrill.ch in Switzerland in 2016.
The Stampfli 2-Inch Drill is a lightweight electromechanical drill that takes a 57 mm (2-inch) diameter core. The drill system fits inside one helicopter or twin otter, and is packed in pieces that can be lifted by one person and transported up a mountain solely by a human on foot or skis. A lightweight Tentipi Safir tent for use with the system is also available.
The system was deployed in 2018 in the Yukon Territory, Canada, where it was operated by the science team to collect one firn core to 10 m depth and another to 20 m depth. In 2019, a science team successfully collected a 50 m core from the summit plateau of Mt. Hunter in Denali National Park, Alaska.
The drill can be operated with either solar panels or a gas engine.
Equipment Details
| Name | Stampfli Drill |
|---|---|
| Type |
Type
Ice coring
|
| Number in Inventory |
Number in Inventory
1
|
| Max. Practical Depth |
Max. Practical Depth
50 meters, depending on conditions
|
| Hole Diameter |
Hole Diameter
72 mm (2.8 inches)
|
| Ice Core Diameter |
Ice Core Diameter
57 mm (2.2 inches)
|
| Ice Core Length |
Ice Core Length
0.8 m
|
| IDP Driller Required? |
IDP Driller Required?
Yes
|
| Drill Fluid Required? |
Drill Fluid Required?
No
|
| Power Requirements/Source |
Power Requirements/Source
Solar panels or 2 kW generator
|
| Estimated Drilling Time |
Estimated Drilling Time
20 m - 3 hr |
| Time to Move (breakdown and setup) |
Time to Move (breakdown and setup)
1 hour
|
| Helicopter Transportable? |
Helicopter Transportable?
Yes
|
| Light Aircraft Transportable? |
Light Aircraft Transportable?
Yes
|
| Shipping Weight |
Shipping Weight
380 lbs (including tent, excluding generator) |
| Shipping Volume (Cube) |
Shipping Cube
Appx 37 |
| Comments |
Documents
| Citation | Year |
|---|---|
| NSF Ice Drilling Program (2023) Stampfli Drill Operations and Maintenance Manual. 1-22. | 2023 |
| Erich Osterberg, Karl Kreutz, Sarah Das (2016) Science Requirements: Stampfli 2-Inch Drill. | 2016 |
Photos
Researchers use the Stampfli Drill to collect a 50-meter long core from the summit plateau of Mount Hunter, Alaska. Credit: David Polashenski
Researchers use the Stampfli Drill to collect a 50-meter long core from the summit plateau of Mount Hunter, Alaska. Credit: David Polashenski
Researchers use the Stampfli Drill to collect a 50-meter long core from the summit plateau of Mount Hunter, Alaska. Credit: David Polashenski
Researchers use the Stampfli Drill to collect a 50-meter long core from the summit plateau of Mount Hunter, Alaska. Credit: David Polashenski
The Stampfli Drill in Greenland during the 2017 Arctic field season. Credit: Elizabeth Morton
A variety of core samples retrieved with the Stampfli Drill during the 2017 Arctic field test of the drill. Credit: Elizabeth Morton
IDP driller Elizabeth Morton field testing the Stampfli Drill. Credit: Michael Jayred
IDP driller Mike Jayred with the second Stampfli Drill test core drilled during the 2017 Arctic field season. Credit: Elizabeth Morton
The shipping crate for the Stampfli Drill. Also shown is the optional tent (inside the brown/tan bag), which also fits inside the shipping crate. Credit: IDP-Wisconsin
Project History
| 2019 Arctic - Alaska: Exploration of the Denali Basal Ice Core Archive |
| 2018 Arctic - Canada/St. Elias Mountains: Geophysical reconnaissance to expand ice core hydroclimate reconstructions in the Northeast Pacific |
Operable in ambient temperatures down to -25°C. A back-packable tent for housing drilling operations is also included.