Analysis of Ice Cuttings Collected During Drilling of the Snow-Firn Layer at Vostok Station


https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673425020124

Full Text:




Abstract

The size and shape of the ice cuttings influence the choice of drilling regimes, as well as the design of drilling heads, augers, chip chambers, and internal drilling channels. To collect ice chips, two boreholes, VK-22 (30 m) and VK-23 (40 m), were drilled at Vostok station. Sieving was used to analyze the particle size distribution of the ice cuttings at full depth in both boreholes. The shape of the ice particles was examined microscopically at drilling depths of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 m of VK-23. The density of the snow-firn layer and the bulk density of ice cuttings were measured. The ice cuttings became finer-grained as the borehole depth increased. The prevailing fraction changes from 1.6–3 mm to 0.4–0.63 mm, the average particle diameter reduces from 1.55 mm to 0.06 mm, and the D10, D50, and D90 values decrease more than twice. The shape analysis revealed that the ice chips are dominated by equant and elongated particles, with medium shape projections described by parameters FF = 0.74 and ER = 0.67. A visual comparison of microscopic images shows that the thickness of the ice cuttings decreases as the depth of the well increases.

About the Authors

D. A. Vasilev
Saint Petersburg Mining University
Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg


I. V. Rakitin
Saint Petersburg Mining University
Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg


S. A. Ignatev
Saint Petersburg Mining University
Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg


A. V. Bolshunov
Saint Petersburg Mining University
Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg


A. Yu. Ozhigin
Saint Petersburg Mining University
Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg


References

1. Bolshunov A.V., Vasilev D.A., Dmitriev A.N., Ignatev S.A., Kadochnikov V.G., Krikun N.S., Serbin D.V., Shadrin V.S. Results of complex experimental studies at Vostok station in Antarctica. Zapiski Gornogo instituta. Journ. of Mining Institute. 2023, 263: 724–741. EDN: WQNJET [In Russian].

2. Ekaykin A.A., Tchikhatchev K.B., Veres A.N., Lipenkov V.Y., Tebenkova N.A., Turkeev A.V. Vertical profile of snowfirn density in the vicinity of Vostok station, Central Antarctica. Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2022, 62 (4): 504–511. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673422040147 [In Russian].

3. Ignatiev S.A., Vasilev D.A., Bolshunov A.V., Vasileva M.A., Ozhigin A.Y. Experimental research of ice cuttings transport by air while drilling of the snow-firn layer. Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2023, 63 (1): 141–152. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673423010076 [In Russian].

4. Kapustin A.V. Some peculiarities of production of meteorological measurements at antarctic station East. Сolloquium-journal. 2019, 9 (33): 17–25. https://doi.org/10.24411/2520-6990-2019-10216 [In Russian].

5. Lipenkov V.Ya., Polyakova E.V., Duval P., Preobrazhenskaya A.V. Structural features of the Antarctic ice sheet in the area of Vostok station based on the results of petrostructural studies of the ice core. Arctic and Antarctic Research. 2007, 2 (76) 68–77 [In Russian].

6. Serbin D.V., Dmitriev A.N. Experimental research on the thermal method of drilling by melting the well in ice mass with simultaneous controlled expansion of its diameter. Zapiski Gornogo instituta. Journ. of Mining Institute. 2022, 257: 833–842. https://doi.org/10.31897/PMI.2022.82 [In Russian]

7. Veres A.N., Ekaykin A.A., Lipenkov V.Ya., Turkeev A.V., Khodzer T.V. First data on the climate variability in the vicinity of Vostok Station (central Antarctica) over the past 2000 years based on the study of a snow-firn core. Problemy Arktiki i Antarktiki. Arctic and Antarctic Research. 2020, 66 (4): 482–500. https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2020-66-4-482-500 [In Russian].

8. Blott S.J., Pye K. Particle shape: a review and new methods of characterization and classification. Sedimentology. 2007, 55 (1): 31–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00892.x

9. Clarke G.K.C. A short history of scientific investigations on glaciers. Journ. of Glaciology. 1987, (33) S1, 4–24. https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000215785

10. Dengaev A.V. Mechanical Impurities Carry-Over from Horizontal Heavy Oil Production Well. Processes. 2023, 11: 2932. https://doi.org/11.2932.10.3390/pr11102932

11. Ekaykin A.A., Lipenkov V.Ya., Tebenkova N. Fifty years of instrumental surface mass balance observations at Vostok Station, Central Antarctica. Journ. of Glaciology. 2023: 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.53

12. Gibson C. RAM-2 Drill system development: an upgrade of the Rapid Air Movement Drill. Annals of Glaciology. 2020, 62 (84): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2020.72

13. Goodge J.W., Severinghaus J.P., Johnson J., Tosi D., Bay R.

14. Deep ice drilling, bedrock coring and dust logging with the Rapid Access Ice Drill (RAID) at Minna Bluff, Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology. 2021, 62: 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2021.13

15. Hu Zh., Talalay P.G., Zheng Zh., Cao P., Shi G., Li Y., Fan X., Ma H. Air reverse circulation at the hole bottom in ice-core drilling. Journ. of Glaciology. 2019, 65: 149–156. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.95

16. Hong J., Fan X., Liu Y., Liu G., Liu B., Talalay P. Size distribution and shape characteristics of ice cuttings produced by an electromechanical auger drill. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2015, 119: 204–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.08.012

17. Hong J., Talalay P., Sysoev M., Fan X. DEM modeling of ice cuttings transportation by electromechanical auger core drills. Annals of Glaciology. 2014, 55 (68): 65–71. https://doi.org/10.3189/2014AoG68A002

18. Hou Zh., Liu Y., Meng Q., Xu H., Liang N., Yang G. Investigation of the dynamic ascent characteristics of ice core during polar core drilling. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2024, 222: 104184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2024.104184

19. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 13322–1:2014 Particle size analysis – Image analysis methods – Part 1: Static image analysis methods, 2nd ed. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization, 2014.

20. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 9276–1:1998 Repre- sentation of results of particle size analysis – Part 1: Graphical representation, 2nd ed. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization, 1998.

21. Kern J., Montagna G., Borges M. Techniques for determining size and shape of drill cuttings. Brazilian Journal of Petroleum and Gas. 2022, 16 (2): 65–77. https://doi.org/10.5419/bjpg2022-0006

22. Kyzym I., Reyes R., Rana P., Molgaard J., Butt S. Cuttings Analysis for Rotary Drilling Penetration Mechanisms and Performance Evaluation. Conference: ARMA 2015. 49th US Rock Mechanics. 2015.

23. Litvinenko V.S. Foreword: Sixty-year Russian history of Antarctic sub-glacial lake exploration and Arctic natural resource development. Geochemistry. 2020, 80 (3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2020.125652

24. Litvinenko V.S., Leitchenkov G.L., Vasiliev N.I. Anticipated sub-bottom geology of Lake Vostok and technological approaches considered for sampling. Geochemistry. 2020: 80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2019.125556

25. Merkus H.G. Particle Size Measurements Fundamentals, Practice, Quality. Springer, 2009.

26. Mikhalenko V., Kutuzov S., Toropov P., Legrand M., Sokratov S., Chernyakov G., Lavrentiev I., Preunkert S, Kozachek A., Vorobiev M., Khairedinova A., Lipenkov V. Accumulation rates over the past 260 years archived in Elbrus ice core, Caucasus. Climate of the Past. 2024, 20: 237–255. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-237-2024

27. Ren Z., Gao H., Luo W., Elser J. Bacterial communities in surface and basal ice of a glacier terminus in the headwaters of Yangtze River on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Environmental Microbiome. 2022, 17 (12): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-022-00408-2

28. Rodriguez J., Edeskär T., Knutsson S. Particle shape quantities and measurement techniques: a review. The electronic journal of geotechnical engineering. 2013, 18: 169–198.

29. Talalay P.G. Removal of cuttings in deep ice electromechanical drills. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2006, 44 (2): 87–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2004.08.005

30. Talalay P.G. Mechanical Ice Drilling Technology. Singapore: Springer, 2016 Veres A.N., Ekaykin A.A., Golobokova L.P., Khodzher T.V., Khuriganowa O.I., Turkeev A.V. A record of volcanic eruptions over the past 2,200 years from Vostok firn cores, Central East Antarctica. Front. Earth Sci. 2023, 11: 1075739. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1075739

31. Zhang Z., Lan X., Wen G., Qingming L., Yang X. An Experimental Study on the Particle Size and Shape Distribution of Coal Drill Cuttings by Dynamic Image Analysis. Geofluids. 2021: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5588248


Supplementary files

For citation: Vasilev D.A., Rakitin I.V., Ignatev S.A., Bolshunov A.V., Ozhigin A.Y. Analysis of Ice Cuttings Collected During Drilling of the Snow-Firn Layer at Vostok Station. Ice and Snow. 2025;65(2):357-372. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673425020124

Views: 79

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2076-6734 (Print)
ISSN 2412-3765 (Online)

Vavilova St. 37 Moscow 117312 Russia
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Tel. +7 (499) 124-73-82

##about.privacyPolicyCommon##
supported by NEICON (Elpub lab)