Methods and equipment for temperature measurements in subsea permafrost

Abstract

Temperature measurements have been made since 1975 in shallow, small-diameter boreholes in the subsea sediments of the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off the coast of Alaska. Methods for making access holes with lightweight equipment are described. These include augering, water jet drilling, rotary water jet drilling, and driving. The holes were completed with iron or plastic water pipe or with plastic tubing and logged for temperature at discrete, closely spaced intervals. Methods for the calibration and use of the temperature-measuring equipment and for the reduction of temperature data are also described.