USGS Deep Logging Winch

Description

In PY 2014, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) gifted its 4 km logging winch to IDP for continued use by the polar logging community. The winch was used extensively for logging boreholes in both Greenland and Antarctica and was last deployed during the 2014-2015 Antarctic season for logging at WAIS Divide. Gary Clow, the former predominant operator of the winch, has trained the IDP staff on the set-up, operation, crating, maintenance and troubleshooting of the winch.

The USGS winch is capable of logging boreholes 4400 meters deep. The cable is a standard four-conductor logging cable headed with a standard 1-inch outer-diameter Gearhart-Owen variant. The winch has a broadband slip-ring connector enabling it to transmit both analog and high speed digital signals from DC to 250 MHz.

Equipment Details

Name USGS Deep Logging Winch
Type
Type
Logging
Number in Inventory
Number in Inventory
1
Max. Practical Depth
Max. Practical Depth
4400 m
IDP Driller Required?
IDP Driller Required?
Yes (usually)
Power Requirements/Source
Power Requirements/Source
208 V (Hubbell 231A) and 120 V; 10 kW generator
Helicopter Transportable?
Helicopter Transportable?
No
Light Aircraft Transportable?
Light Aircraft Transportable?
No
Shipping Weight
Shipping Weight

4,260 lbs

Shipping Volume (Cube)
Shipping Cube

135

Comments
Comments

Weights and dimensions above do not include a generator or fuel

Documents

Citation Year
U.S. Ice Drilling Program (2019) USGS Deep Logging Winch Operations and Maintenance Manual. 1-23. 2019
IDDO (2017) Logging Tool Testing: An Informational Guide - Logging Tool Equipment Testing at IDDO. 1-13. 2017
Gary D Clow (2008) USGS Polar Temperature Logging System, Description and Measurement Uncertainties. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 2-E3, 1-24. https://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/02e03/ 2008

Photos

Project History

2014-2015 Antarctic - Temperature Logging of the WAIS Divide Borehole, West Antarctica
2014-2015 Antarctic - Seismic Logging of the WAIS Divide Borehole, West Antarctica
2014-2015 Antarctic - Optical Fabric and Fiber Logging of Glacial Ice
2014-2015 Antarctic - Velvet Ice – Evolution of Fabric and Texture in Ice at WAIS Divide, West Antarctica

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