Geotechnical and Exploration Drilling in the Polar Regions [Hardcover]

This book provides a comprehensive review of drilling technologies in the polar regions, from the portable drilling equipment for shallow sampling and coring, to heavy drilling equipment for deep onshore and offshore drilling. Particular attention is given to safe drilling methods in permafrost. In recent years, interest in drilling in the polar regions has increased under the pressure of the geopolitical rush and the undiscovered resource potential. In addition, borehole monitoring of permafrost thermal states is urgently needed to obtain evidence of climate change. The book focuses on the latest drilling technologies but also discusses the historical development of sampling, and drilling tools and devices, over the last 6070 years providing valuable insights into a way forward and future possibilities.

Chapter 1. Drilling targets in the Polar Regions.- Chapter 2. Drilling challenges in the Polar Regions.- Chapter 3. Direct-push and percussion drilling.- Chapter 4. Non-coring erosion drilling in permafrost.- Chapter 5. Auger and rotary dry drilling.- Chapter 6. Rotary drilling with drilling fluid circulation.- Chapter 7. Air and foam drilling.- Chapter 8. Special drilling methods in the Polar Regions.- Chapter 9. Offshore drilling and sampling in the Polar Regions. Concluding Remarks, References.

Dr. Pavel G. Talalay is a Professor at the College of Construction Engineering and Director of the Institute of Polar Science and Engineering at Jilin University, Changchun, China. He holds Drilling Engineer (1984), Ph.D. (1995) and Doc. Eng. (2007) degrees in Exploration Engineering from St. Petersburg Mining UnilSŒ