China breaks the world record for drilling in the depths of the oceans – science – life

A deepwater drilling rig from China set a new world record for deepwater drilling depth.

The Chinese drilling rig Hainiu (meaning “manatee”) II, developed by Hunan University of Science and Technology (HNUST), has reached a depth of 231 meters on the sea floor more than 2000 meters below sea level. In the South China Sea.

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Before that, the maximum drilling depth designed for deepwater drilling machines worldwide was 200 meters, and the actual depth drilled in pressure pits was 135 meters, according to Diario del Pueblo.

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Pressure core sampling is a unique Hainiu II technology, allowing the platform to retrieve core samples from the ocean floor while maintaining pressure in situ. It is vital for exploring flammable ice, crystallizing ice with methane, and some other minerals of the sea floor.

Ice is flammable in the form of ice only when it is under pressure from sea water. Once removed from the depth to which it is adapted, it volatilize due to the pressure relief. That is why these materials can only be recovered through stress core sampling.

Wan Poyan, a professor at HNUST and a lead investigator on the draft, said the Hainiu II drilling rig has achieved a number of technological advances, such as pressure drilling for the entire process, as well as high-capacity drill rods and quick coupling and release.

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The smart drilling machine can be operated by one person on board the parent ship. While drilling and sampling, you can also detect the electrical resistance and porosity of the rock and take pictures in the hole.

Wan said the team plans to place the drilling rig in an exploration operation in the Mariana Trench more than 10,000 meters deep, as no seabed drilling has ever been carried out.

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