Recent drilling successes on Rutford Ice Stream in West Antarctica demonstrate the viability of hot water drilling subglacial access holes to depths >2000 m. Having techniques to access deep subglacial environments reliably paves the way for subglacial lake exploration beneath the thick central West Antarctic Ice Sheet. An ideal candidate lake, overlain by ~2650 m of ice, identified by Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), Chile, has led to collaboration with British Antarctic Survey to access Subglacial Lake CECs (SLCECs). To conform with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research code of conduct, which provides a guide to responsible scientific exploration and stewardship of these pristine systems, any access drilling must minimise all aspects of contamination and disturbance of the subglacial environment. To meet these challenges, along with thicker ice and 2000 m elevation, pumping and water treatment systems developed for the Subglacial Lake Ellsworth project, together with new diesel generators, additional water heating and longer drill hose, are currently being integrated with the BEAMISH hot water drill. A dedicated test season near SLCECs will commission the new clean hot water drill, with testing and validation of all clean operating procedures. A subsequent season will then access SLCECs cleanly.

中文翻译：

---

开发清洁热水钻头以进入西南极洲冰下湖 CEC

最近在南极洲西部拉特福德冰流上的钻探成功证明了热水在冰下钻探深度 > 2000 米的可行性。拥有进入深层冰下环境的技术可靠地为在厚厚的南极西部中部冰盖下的冰下湖泊探索铺平了道路。由智利科学研究中心 (CECs) 确定的一个理想的候选湖泊，覆盖着约 2650 m 的冰层，已与英国南极调查局合作进入冰下湖 CECs (SLCECs)。为了遵守南极研究科学委员会的行为准则，该准则为负责任的科学探索和这些原始系统的管理提供了指南，任何进入钻探都必须最大限度地减少对冰下环境的污染和干扰的各个方面。为了应对这些挑战，除了更厚的冰层和 2000 米的海拔，为 Subglacial Lake Ellsworth 项目开发的泵送和水处理系统，以及新的柴油发电机、额外的水加热装置和更长的钻机软管，目前正在与 BEAMISH 热水钻机集成。SLCEC 附近的一个专门测试季节将调试新的清洁热水钻机，并对所有清洁操作程序进行测试和验证。随后的一个赛季将干净地访问 SLCEC。对所有清洁操作程序进行测试和验证。随后的一个赛季将干净地访问 SLCEC。对所有清洁操作程序进行测试和验证。随后的一个赛季将干净地访问 SLCEC。