Some thoughts on deep core drilling systems design

There should always be an on going effort, particularly in our field of deep drilling in ice, to simplify and be innovative in our continuing effort to provide data for the glaciological community. We must strive to simplify for the obvious reasons of cost and reliability and we should be innovative in our attempt to constantly improve our equipment and techniques, particularly under the harsh Polar conditions which we all know too well. This paper discusses some ideas and innovations which I feel might be useful for future designs and which might improve on the methods by which we pursue the concept of deep core drilling in ice. These include a possible method for retrieving whole cores in the brittle zone; a method for orienting core samples; a different type of drilling drive possibly using a hydrostatic principal as a gear reducer or a more conventional reducer driven by a standard deep well submersible motor; a novel anti-torque restraint utilizing the counter torque of the gear drive which is deployed only during drilling; a vertical stabilizing pendulum mechanism at the upper end of the drill; and a chip removal system which facilitates the collection and removal of the cuttings. In addition an expedient method for setting up and operating a drilling system in a remote location and the use of alcohol as a drilling fluid are discussed.