Deep drilling in Antarctic ice: Methods and perspectives

Тalalay, Pavel G.

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104471

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 68 publications

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“…The development of oil and gas resources of the continental shelf is the most important task for the economic development of countries [1][2][3][4]. Offshore drilling in extreme environments, such as the Arctic seas, requires careful consideration of various factors to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the hydraulic structures involved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial ice island

Sharapov,

Andreeva

2023

E3S Web Conf.

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The development of the regions of the Far North is currently the most important task for the extraction of the mineral resources. However, when conducting offshore drilling in the Arctic seas, the selection of appropriate hydraulic structures is crucial. Factors such as severe natural and climatic conditions, remoteness from developed areas, and the presence of permafrost soils necessitate specific considerations. This paper examines the limitations and advantages of different offshore hydraulic structures for exploration and development drilling in the Arctic. It is concluded that artificial island structures, particularly ice islands, offer the most effective solution for year-round prospecting and exploratory drilling in shallow Arctic shelf zones. Ice islands provide increased resistance to ice loads, lower costs, and minimal environmental impact. However, their usage is restricted to the winter period, as they melt or collapse during the summer. Additionally, ice islands cannot be converted into production platforms if a commercial deposit is discovered. Understanding these limitations and advantages is crucial for successful offshore drilling operations in the challenging Arctic environment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial ice island

Sharapov,

Andreeva

2023

E3S Web Conf.

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Direct simulations of bedrock core and cuttings transport phenomena in reverse circulation drilling

Sun,

Ye,

Wang

2024

Physics of Fluids

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Polar drilling is essential for obtaining ice and bedrock samples, providing critical insights into climate and geological history. The reverse circulation drilling method, utilizing a dual-wall drill pipe, presents a stable and efficient strategy. Nonetheless, the intricate dynamics involving drilling fluids, rock cuttings and cores necessitate sophisticated modeling to elucidate the underlying mechanism and optimize drilling efficiency. To address this, we developed a multiphase flow model that accounts for non-Newtonian fluid behavior, turbulence, particle dynamics, and fluid–structure interactions, enabling a thorough assessment of various operational parameters. The model's temporal–spatial sensitivity was evaluated, and its accuracy was confirmed by comparison with three different sets of experimental data. A detailed parametric investigation was then conducted to systematically assess the effects of various parameters, including the non-Newtonian behavior and inlet velocity of the drilling fluid, the rate of penetration, and the dimensions of the cuttings and core. The simulation results indicate that the non-Newtonian behavior of the drilling fluid has an non-negligible effect on the transport efficiency of both cuttings and core. An increase in the fluid inlet velocity leads to faster transport, albeit at the cost of higher pump pressure. The rate of penetration has a minor influence on the core transportation but largely affects the cutting transportation. More interestingly, larger cuttings demonstrate enhanced transport efficiency, attributed to a more uniform velocity distribution. Furthermore, the core diameter plays a pivotal role in transport efficiency by significantly altering the fluid dynamics, whereas the core length has a negligible effect. These results may have direct applications for optimizing polar drilling operations, potentially leading to enhanced drilling efficiency, reduced drilling costs, and informing future drilling technology advancements.

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Alternative clean approaches to accessing subglacial Lake Vostok

Talalay,

Fan

2024

Problemy Arktiki i Antarktiki

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A study of the subglacial Lake Vostok requires clean accessing and sampling technologies. The paper presents four potential options — three types of hot-points and a hot-water drilling system — which can be considered as environmental-friendly technologies and could be used in the cold ice of East Antarctica. The description contains only general ideas and a brief estimation of the main parameters of the technologies suggested and does not include any detailed analysis. All the methods proposed have their own advantages and disadvantages. The final decision about a method’s applicability should be made following careful development and engineering work, including theoretical studies, modelling, laboratory testing, taking into account the available funds and logistics opportunities.

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Deep drilling in Antarctic ice: Methods and perspectives

Cited by 3 publications

References 68 publications

Artificial ice island

Artificial ice island

Direct simulations of bedrock core and cuttings transport phenomena in reverse circulation drilling

Alternative clean approaches to accessing subglacial Lake Vostok

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