Conceptual project of a center for testing technologies and technical devices for glacier drilling

The implementation of drilling projects in Antarctica requires comprehensive research and development work to study the processes of interaction between drilling equipment and ice and test devices designed for ice drilling. Testing facilities with artificial ice are essential for conducting this type of research. The article presents an analysis of the existing experimental stand projects, which identified a common drawback — inability to recreate a structure of atmospheric ice and thermobaric conditions similar to those in boreholes drilled in Antarctica. The authors propose the conceptual project of a сenter for testing technologies and technical devices for glacier drilling. The сenter is to be located on two sites: the first — on the “Sablino” educational and scientific testing ground of Saint-Petersburg Mining University in the Leningrad Region (Russia), the second — at the drilling complex of 5G borehole at Vostok station in Antarctica. The implementation of the project will allow conducting experimental research and testing, using both shallow artificial ice wells and deep boreholes in the Antarctic glacier. In addition, it will allow maintaining the drilling complex and 5G borehole in a good technical condition.