Extension-Type Pulling-and-Running Gear for Investigations of Subglacial Lake Vostok

Abstract

-The paper reviews a key issue concerned with development of technologies and technical means required for investigation of subglacial lakes in Antarctica and Lake Vostok in particular, which would secure environmental safety of the operations. The main objectives of the research activities reviewed in the paper was to justify design concepts of the equipment to be used for penetration into Subglacial Lake Vostok and to develop a pulling-and-running gear required for such penetration. Reviews of research publications and a patent search confirmed that neither the standard designs nor advanced developments of pulling-and-running gears are suitable for the proposed technology of penetration into Subglacial Lake Vostok. A fundamentally new and patent-protected design of the pulling-and-running gear was developed in agreement with the defined specifications. The developed penetration technology into the subglacial lake as well as the pulling-and-running gear design for its implementation not only secure the environmental safety of survey execution, but also meet a number of key requirements. These requirements include stability of the borehole interval filled with the lake water, prevention of the delivery vehicle freezing on to its walls, reliability and trouble-free operation of all arrangements and systems used to deliver the research tools and instruments into the lake.

Developments Made in the Field of Drilling Fluids by Saint Petersburg Mining University

“…The Scientific School of the Well Drilling Department of the St. Petersburg Mining University is developing technologies [1][2][3][4] and technical tools for drilling wells and their development [5,6] in difficult conditions. Research has been focused on the development of drilling fluid compositons [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] and well cementing [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] in various geological conditions; development of technological solutions for drilling directional, multilateral wells with extended reach [27][28][29][30][31][32], development of technology and techniques for drilling in ice and drilling into the relict Lake Vostok in the Antarctica [33][34][35][36][37][38][39].…”