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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 2002-03: VUWAE 47
Fig 3. The system uses a combination of melted snow and re-circulated melt-water to produce a jet of hot (95°C) water to melt through the ice shelf. Firstly a vertical pilot hole (~15 cm) is made through the ice shelf. This is then widened to >600 mm using a reamer. Additional reaming is needed at the bottom of the hole as hot water is lost to the ocean beneath the ice shelf
System specification
Hot water capacity: 90 l/min from 6 JP8 fueled burners
Water temperature: 95°C
Working pressure: 80 bar (1200 psi)
Drilling rate:
- Pilot hole (~150 mm diameter) 30 m/hr
- Reamer hole (>600 mm diameter) 20 m/hr
- Bottom reamer (>600 mm diameter 5 m/hr
Fig 3. The system uses a combination of melted snow and re-circulated melt-water to produce a jet of hot (95°C) water to melt through the ice shelf. Firstly a vertical pilot hole (~15 cm) is made through the ice shelf. This is then widened to >600 mm using a reamer. Additional reaming is needed at the bottom of the hole as hot water is lost to the ocean beneath the ice shelf.