Lake Ellsworth drilling halted after serious problem with the main boiler

The British attempt to search for life in ancient Lake Ellsworth beneath the Antarctic ice-sheet has run into trouble.

The team has reported “a serious problem” with the main boiler used to heat the water that powers a drill.

Work was halted on Saturday in what could prove to be a major blow to the project to investigate sub-glacial Lake Ellsworth.

The aim is to use 90C water to blast a hole through the two-mile-thick ice-sheet to reach the lake waters below.

The research goal is to gather samples of water and sediment to search for signs of life and clues about the region’s climatic history.

The project relies on the successful operation of the hot-water drill which in turn depends on the boiler.

The British attempt to search for life in ancient Lake Ellsworth beneath the Antarctic ice-sheet has run into trouble

Last Thursday the team reported that a key circuit on the boiler – controlling the primary burner – had failed to start.

A back-up burner was fitted which ran successfully for 4-5 days – enough to melt the water needed to start drilling.

The first task was to melt a cavity 300m below the ice to act as a water store to help balance water pressure once the main drilling to the lake started.

In a statement released this morning, the team announced: “Unfortunately, the burner failed at approximately 3:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.”

A replacement component has been ordered and is expected to reach the team in a few days’ time.

“In the meantime, the engineering team is in contact with the manufacturers of the units who are helping them to determine the cause of the malfunction.

“Both units demonstrated the same problem. When the replacement circuit arrives the engineers will work with the manufacturer to go through the set up procedure. The team is hopeful that this will solve the problem,” the statement says.

“If not, a further option is to attempt to bypass the circuit and manually <<drive>> the burner. The team is discussing operating protocols with the manufacturer before exploring this option further.”

A major concern is that the system was designed to be operated on one attempt – to heat the water and melt open the bore-hole without pause to avoid the risk of ice forming inside the drill-pipe.

However, sources at the British Antarctic Survey say there is no issue of any water having frozen in the pipes. They say the system is still “ticking over” with warm water.

In temperatures as low as minus 30C, and in a region notorious for its winds and remoteness, any technical problems of this scale are a huge challenge.

The team always recognized that the project involved high risks – with sophisticated technology in a hostile environment.

It is unlikely that the team will resume drilling before Friday December 21st.

tL2LtXTe00E
Diane A. Wade

Diane is a perfectionist. She enjoys searching the internet for the hottest events from around the world and writing an article about it. The details matter to her, so she makes sure the information is easy to read and understand. She likes traveling and history, especially ancient history. Being a very sociable person she has a blast having barbeque with family and friends.

Recent Posts

Donald Trump and Elon Musk Celebrate Election Victory at UFC 309

Image source: Wikimedia Commons President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting…

5 days ago

White House 2024: Donald Trump Wins, Kamala Harris Calls Him to Concede Election

Millions of voters across the US chose to return Donald Trump to the White House…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Donald Trump Declares Victory as He Addresses Jubilant Supporters in Florida

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.…

2 weeks ago

Stocks Soaring as Donald Trump Closes in on US Victory

Stocks around the world are rising as Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Kamala Harris Cancels Election Night Party as Path to Victory Narrows

Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala…

2 weeks ago

Quincy Jones Dead at 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray…

2 weeks ago