A Simple Hot-Water Drill for Penetrating Ice Shelves

Title A Simple Hot-Water Drill for Penetrating Ice Shelves
Publication Type
Conference Proceedings
Year
1984
Author(s) Verrall R , Baade D
Journal/ Publication
Proceedings of the Second International Workshop/Symposium on Ice Drilling Technology (eds G. Holdsworth, K.C. Kuivinen and J.H. Rand), CRREL Special Report 84-34
Pagination
87-94
Abstract

A simple hot-water ice drill capable of making holes 20 cm in diameter through ice at least 50 meters thick was designed at the Defense Research Establishment Pacific and tested on the Ellesmere Island ice shelves. The drill is built primarily with commercially-available equipment, the amount of in-house construction being kept to a minimum. Using readily available fuel, Arctic diesel or turbo fuel, a hole through the 50-meter-thick shelf was drilled at a rate of 11 m per hour. The paper discusses the drill construction and tests, and indicates a number of weak points in the design.

File
Special Collections International Workshop on Ice Drilling Technology Series, 2nd International Workshop on Ice Drilling Technology
Categories Hot Water Drilling
Citation Verrall R , Baade D ( 1984 ) A Simple Hot-Water Drill for Penetrating Ice Shelves. Proceedings of the Second International Workshop/Symposium on Ice Drilling Technology (eds G. Holdsworth, K.C. Kuivinen and J.H. Rand), CRREL Special Report 84-34 , 87-94 .
Lead Author
Verrall R