Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/5623
Title: Deep rotary core drilling in ice
Authors: Lange, G. Robert
Keywords: Antarctica
Greenland
Drilling
Rotary drilling
Coring
Ice
Ice cores
Ice coring
Glacier ice
Equipment
EPOLAR
Publisher: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)
Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.: Technical report (Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)) ; 94.
Description: Technical Report
Abstract: Rotary drilling equipment was modified and used to obtain cores from glaciers in Northwest Greenland, Byrd Station and Little America V, Antarctica. Using cold compressed air, specially designed bits and other modifications, cores were obtained to 1345 feet in Greenland, 1000 feet at Byrd Station and the Ross Ice Shelf was penetrated to a depth of 840 feet at Little America V. In all locations cracks in the core appeared with increasing frequency at depth due to the sudden release of the overburden load when the core was cut in the air-filled hole. Special equipment and techniques developed dealt with the problem with some success. It is suggested that better cores and greater depths may be obtained by using diesel fuel as the circulating medium. A wireline system instead of drill pipe is suggested for. coring to 10,000 foot depths in polar glaciers.
Rights: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11681/5623
Appears in Collections:Technical Report

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