Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
GI
Articles | Volume 14, issue 2
Articles | Volume 14, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-14-277-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-14-277-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 14, issue 2
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
22 Oct 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 22 Oct 2025

Experiences and Lessons Learned from Designing and Testing of an Air System and a Drilling Fluid Circulation System Adapted for Subglacial Bedrock Sampling in Antarctica

Yazhou Li, Gansheng Yang, Jing Wang, Kai Zhang, Bing Li, Yangxi Lu, Zheng Zhou, Zufang Wang, Ruozhou Huang, Xingwen Lai, Yuchen Sun, and Mingqi Wang

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Cited articles

Alemany, O., Talalay, P. G., Boissonneau, P., Chappellaz, J., Chemin, J. F., Duphil, R., Lefebvre, E., Piard, L., Possenti, P. and Triest, J.: The SUBGLACIOR drilling probe: hydraulic considerations, Ann. Glaciol., 62, 131–142, https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2020.79, 2021. 
Arenson, L. U.: Unstable Alpine permafrost: a potentially important natural hazard, PhD thesis, Institute for Geotechnical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 304 pp., https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/entities/publication/01ec8763-1716-47da-89be-f7c0008fdaeb (last access: 20 October 2025), 2002. 
Bazanov, L. D.: Opyt kolonkovogo bureniya na lednikakh zemli frantsa-iosifa [core drilling experiment on glaciers of Franz josef Land], Issledovaniya lednokov i lednikovikh raionov, Akademiya nauk SSSR, Institut geografii, Mezhduvedomstvennyi komitet po provedeniiu MGG [investigations of glaciers and polar regions, Academy of sciences of USSR, Interdep. Comm. Realization Int. Geophys.], 109–114, 1961 (in Russian). 
Bentley, C. R. and Koci, B. R.: Drilling to the beds of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets: a review, Ann. Glaciol., 47, 1–9, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756407786857695, 2007. 
Bentley, C. R., Koci, B. R., Augustin, L. J.-M., Bolsey, R. J., Green, J. A., Kyne, J. D., Lebar, D. A., Mason, W. P., Shturmakov, A. J., Engelhardt, H. F., Harrison, W. D., Hecht, M. H., and Zagorodnov, V. S.: Ice drilling and coring, In: Drilling in extreme environments: penetration and sampling on earth and other planets, edited by: Bar-Cohen, Y. and Zacny, K., WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co., KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, 221–308, https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527626625.ch4, 2009. 
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Editorial statement
This paper represents a significant contribution to studying the current drilling fluid circulation system in Earth's northern regions, and to the more general objective of investigating thermal changes in the Northern Semisphere . Furthermore, the results of this paper are a good contribution to the development of ice and subglacial bedrock drilling technology.
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Short summary
A multi-process drilling system (MPDS), comprising an air system and a drilling-fluid circulation system (DFCS) was developed in China for subglacial bedrock sampling. The air system and DFCS were highly integrated in 20 ft container for easy transportation and assembly. Both systems were tested in China and Antarctica. The experiences and lessons learned in designing and testing would be helpful to promote the development of subglacial bedrock drilling technology.
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