Replicate ice-coring system testing

Drilling the WDC06A borehole at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide with the Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) drill began in December 2007 and was successfully completed in December 2011 to a depth of 3405 m. The design and construction of a replicate coring system for use with the existing DISC drill began in 2010. In January 2012, the new replicate coring system was tested in the parent borehole at WAIS Divide. While a full deviation was not completed during the test period, much was learned about the mechanical, electrical and operational aspects of the system. Extensive testing and modifications were done over the northern/boreal summer to prepare the system for the upcoming and final season of the project. Further tuning of the system continued during the 2012/13 field season at WAIS Divide. This paper identifies the issues found with the system during the initial test season and discusses solutions, methods and testing done to arrive at an operational system.