BOLD Drill Conceptual Design

Over the past decade, IDP has used existing drills in the IDP inventory to drill ice cores in support of COLDEX and other science projects in blue ice at Allan Hills. The age of this ice both increases its scientific value as well as how difficult it is to drill, with cores from this area having quality problems ranging from moderate to severe. To determine what could be done to remedy these issues, IDP was tasked in program year 2024 with conducting the Blue Ice Core Quality Feasibility Study. Following the results of this study, the 2025 Long Range Science Plan called for the conceptual design of a next generation Blue Ice Drill (BID), with the Science Requirements finalized in January 2026. At the same time, IDP combined components of several existing drill systems to deploy a Shallow Wet Drill (SWD) for proof-of-concept testing at Allan Hills to determine if drill fluid would improve core quality. The addition of fluid starting at 115 m depth immediately brought core quality from rubble to excellent, and an understanding of fluid column requirements to maintain quality was developed throughout the season. With the assistance of the scientific community and international experts, IDP has created the conceptual design for this drill, known as the Borehole of Large Diameter (BOLD) Drill.