A New Technology of Coring for Bottom Soft Sediments

Abstract

A new technology for coring of weakly consolidated sediment is proposed. The technology includes the original coring system and the way it is operated. The technology is based on a number of original solutions: (1) unification of the elements of the drill string, where household pipes made of PVC are used as a sampler and rods; (2) the use of the valve mechanism of a simple conical construction; (3) the method of vertical freezing of the core in open air. The coring system makes it possible to obtain the cores of the soft bottom sediment in winter from ice at a water depth of up to 7–10 m. Field tests have shown that the proposed system is inexpensive, easy to assemble and operate, very effective, and reliable. The new system can be used as an alternative or complement to existing systems for coring of bottom sediments.