Challenges for rock core drilling rigs in deep-sea hydrothermal sulfide exploration

Rock core drilling rig face many challenges in exploring deep-sea hydrothermal sulfides.

 

  1. Extreme environment impact: Near hot hydrothermal vents, temperatures swing from a few to hundreds of degrees. This affects rig parts’ stability and lifespan.
  2. Complex terrain obstacles: Hydrothermal areas have rugged seabed volcanic terrain. Rigs struggle to move and position, risking collisions and jams.
  3. Energy supply limits: Deep-sea operations restrict rig energy. Completing efficient drilling with limited power remains a tough problem.

 

These challenges make developing and using such rigs extremely hard, demanding continuous technical breakthroughs.Rock core drilling rig