Light­weight ice drilling systems

About

Intermediate depth wireline drilling rig is designed for operating electro-drills and borehole logging devices with power requirements up to 5 kW and up to 4 fiber optical communication channels. Depending on cable diameter it can be configured for drilling or logging boreholes up to 750 m deep. The winch is powered with 1 kW DC brush motor that can pull 300 kg load at the rate of 0.3 m/s.

Instrumented top pulley allows monitoring of down-hole tool position with resolution of 0.2 mm, as well as weight and cable tension with resolution of 0.2 N when the tool is stationary.

Winch drum is equipped with belt brake that can be independently activated with foot pedal or electric actuator.

Tilting table allows safe service and effortless operations with the down-hole equipment while it is on the surface. Tilting table and a pulley are equipped with cable bend limiters that prevent bending below the minimum radius.

Launching tube provides antitorque and vertical tool stability during mechanical drilling.

The rig platform leveling mechanisms allow fast setup and adjustments of the mast verticality.

Features

• Instrumented pulley: load cells, encoder
• Electric slip ring – 12 × 20 A lines
• Optical rotary joints – 4 lines
• Tilting table
• Rig leveling
• Foot brake on drum: mechanical & electric
• Crank handle

About

Lightweight drilling rig is designed for operations with "electro-drills" and borehole logging devices with power requirements up to 3 kW. It is equipped with 250 m of Kevlar electromechanical cable. The winch is powered with 1.5 kW DC brush motor that can pull a 1000 N load at the speed of 0.8 m/s.

Instrumented top pulley allows monitoring of down-hole tool position with resolution of 0.2 mm, as well as weight, and cable tension of 0.2 N resolution when the tool is stationary.

Winch drum is equipped with a hydraulic foot brake.

Tilting table allows safe service and effortless operations with the down-hole equipment while it is on the surface.

The rig platform leveling mechanisms allow fast setup and adjustment of the mast verticality.

The heaviest parts of the drilling system are winch drum with 250 m cable (22 kg) and motor gearbox assembly (23 kg), which is suitable for transportation by porters. Depending on mode of transportation and degree of dismantlement setup takes 1-3 hours.

This rig was field tested in 2016: https://fr.ulule.com/ice-memory/

Features

• Instrumented pulley: load cells, encoder
• Digital readout/controller
• Electric slip ring – 3 × 20 A lines
• Tilting table
• Rig leveling
• Hydraulic foot brake on drum
• Crank handle

About

Main features of EM-100-1000 electomechanical drill are ability to core temperate ice and transient submerged operations.

The prototype of submersible motor section for fluid operation has been tested and the drill can be customized for drilling of fluid-filled boreholes.

The drill is equipped with hammer that ensures stuck drill release.

The electromechanical drill for ultralight ice coring system (from 50 to 75 mm) is currently under development.

Features

• Interchangeable core barrel
• Adjustable antitorque system
• Hammer
• Coring of temperate ice
• Intermittent submerged operation
• Submersible motor section – field tested prototype

About

We have designed a new generation of electrothermal drill. The main goals of new development were reduction of weight, power requirements and drill service time. Reduction of power usage lowers the penetration rate. However, increased travel speed in fluid-filled borehole and shorter service time on surface allows for the high production rate of average 2 m/h with power consumption of 1.5 kW in 300 m deep borehole.

The drill can operate in temperate, cold and polythermal glaciers.

Features

• Interchangable alcohol container
• Interchangable coring heads
• Magnetic hammer
• Capable of coring temperate ice
• Cold (-30 °C) and temperate ice configuration

About

Fishing-bailer is a device for assisting ice core drilling in the following situations:

• Baling of melt water from a borehole;
• Fishing EM, ET drill or cable
• Delivering antifreeze to drill stuck in fluid-filled borehole.

Described functions were field tested.

Features

• Centrator system
• Cable fishing
• Drill fishing

About

The ultralight ice drilling system is a multifunctional research instrument equipped with coring and non-coring thermal and electromechanical drills, as well as logging tools.

The ultralight system is currently under development. First prototype suitable for field operations is planned for release in summer of 2017.

The ultralight ice drilling system is a multifunctional research instrument equipped with coring and non-coring thermal and electromechanical drills, as well as logging tools.

The ultralight system is currently under development. First prototype suitable for field operations was released in 2017.

Design specifications

Depth capabilities up to 150 m;

Total weight for glacier deployment 25 kg including: one coring or not coring drill and <0.5 kW power source;

Shipping weight for commercial airfreight: weight ≈50 kg in 3 containers,

Electromechanical (EM) ice coring drill; core diameter from 50 to 75 mm; expected ice core production rate (150 m) 3-4 m/h;

Electrothermal (ET) ice coring drill: core diameter from 40 to 50 mm; expected ice core production rate (150 m) 1.5 m/h;

Electrothermal (hotpoint) non-coring drill: from 15 to 18 mm; expected penetration rate 12 m/h (0.5 kW);

Specifications

Base 570 × 580 mm 259 × 520 mm – without extenders

Height 2000 mm – without extenders 2050 mm – working assembly

Weight (150 m cable) 13.3 kg

Load/drill length < 1650 mm

Load diameter < 125 mm

Pulling force (1 kW motor) 250 N

Pulley work load 1200 N

Cable capacity (5 mm) < 170 m

Travel speed < 0.5 m/s

Geometric specifications, pulling force and up travel speed customization upon request.

Features

• Interchangable coring heads
• Magnetic hammer
• Capable of coring temperate ice
• Coring head tested up to 550bar (5500m)