The support and tilt of the drill is managed with a large tower that will be constructed next, in time for the arrival of the drill. /end

To manage the handling and recovery of Estisol, drip trays have been installed and connected so as to return fluid to the borehole. 📷 JP /..

It, and its winch are arriving in coming days courtesy of the IPEV French traverse and the French Program who shipped the drill from Hobart to Antarctica. /..

The borehole can now take the Estisol 140 drilling fluid that is essential to keep the deeper borehole from closing and provide good quality core.

With the casing complete, attention has turned to preparation for installing the big drill. /..

The final bit of vertical travel confirmed that the casing was no longer free to turn as its chamfered bottom seated into the ice that was reamed last season to match.
📷 JP. /..

The process involves connecting each section that is lowered to the suspended casing already in the borehole. Joints are sealed with o-rings and connected with locking wires. The casing ends are heated and o-rings kept warm until needed.
Casing being lowered into the trench. 📷 J. Pedro /..

Science activity has seen the successful installation of borehole casing to a depth of just over 120 metres.
The casing is assembled in sections, suspended from a “quad pod” and progressively lowered into the borehole.
Quad pod centred over the borehole 📷 J. Pedro /..

Before casing, the team confirmed the hole diameter was sufficient - no significant closure since last season.
This was done by lowering a disc of ice of appropriate diameter down the hole. A prudent check which allowed a graceful "failure" if the disc got stuck as it could be broken. 📷 J. Pedro

📸D. Beloin

The camp looks in great shape after the cold and lonely winter. Some drifts outside but no snow inside the shelters.

Ice coring team members are standing by at Casey Station to fly in via Concordia as soon as weather permits. Stay tuned!

📸 D. Harvie

Meanwhile traverse is making excellent progress toward the drill site at Dome C North. As of this morning, they have reached 3080 m altitude and have 269 km to go.

The science and drilling team will fly by Basler to Concordia Station to meet traverse team and set up our deep ice core drill.

And here we see one sonde inside its housing. 📷 Joel Pedro.