2.1 General Comment

The operation of the CRP-2 drill site which includes drilling/science support and scientific programmes worked well most of the time. I believe that the major part of the success of CRP-2 is due to the crew of highly motivated and experienced drilling, science and project support staff working at the site. Drilling is normally an unpredictable task and this is made even less predictable in this area of Antarctica where each new hole we drill has to be considered as a wild cat. Decisions on drilling operations which usually affect the entire drill site operations and routine must often be made at very short notice and this is a fact that project operators, scientists and support organisations have to accept.

Support staff provided excellent service in the running and maintenance of drill site services and supplies including fuel, drill fluid supplies and drill rod. Some of the drill fluid components were flown from New Zealand and these arrived at the drill site by helicopter but any lack of supplies on site did not stop drilling at any time.

2.2 Drilling/Science Liaison.

This season the drilling group and the science group worked well together at the drill site. Drilling decisions and options were discussed regularly (hourly) between the Drilling Manager (DM) and Science Support Manager (SSM) and changes in operations undertaken after consultation. When a major decision was required (eg casing) then options and strategy was discussed at the drill site then presented to the Chief Scientist and Project Manager for discussion and agreement.

Communications between the management at the Drill Site and Camp were difficult at times due in part to the lack of a secure phone line between the two sites and the long hours worked by personnel at both sites left little time for meeting after shifts. We are not prepared to detailed drilling discussions by public radio. A phone line of electronic data quality is requested to connect the two sites possibly via Scott Base to improve communication and daily reporting.

The high workload of the management personnel at the drill site is also of concern and a assistant Science Support Manager is proposed to share the drill site management and science support roles. I hope that this new position will also improve our ability to allow the core technicians a day off every two weeks.

2.3 Personnel.

Drill site personnel worked 12 hour shifts on site and normally had a 13 to 14 hour work day when the shift change transport (Helo/Hagglund) is added. After routine drill site operations had begun the long work day meant most drill site personnel were tired when returning to camp and usually weren't able to partake in after work recreational activities. The uncertain nature of the day to day drilling operation also means that planned recreation was usually difficult for drill site personnel. However it was disappointing that they were often forgotten while personnel at the camp were able to go on trips and I believe moral suffered.

The experienced drill site personnel understand and accept the uncertain nature of drilling operations and would normally expect to work through the drilling period without planned page break time off. To try and force the drilling programme and personnel with a rigid time off plan is unrealistic as it would require extra personnel and training and I believe could seriously compromise the drilling and drill site science operation. It is therefore very important to have a commitment to a recreational programme in place for drill site personnel once all drill site activities are completed. Many of the drilling and science personnel take pay cuts to come to Antarctica and are attracted not only by the challenges of Antarctic drilling and science but they are also interested in other aspects of the Antarctic environment. To send them home without wider antarctic opportunities would be unacceptable. The recreational opportunity that was available in the Wright Valley after drilling I believe was well received by those who could take advantage of it and similar opportunities will be required in the future.

2.4 Catering.

The quality of food provided to the drill site for mid shift meals was generally poor and much of the food was returned to the camp uneaten. In my experience the drill site food was generally of a lower standard that that available at the camp for the same meal times. I believe the reason for this was some food stock were of poor quality (saveloys, old pork chops etc) but also that the Camp's professional chef was uninspired. When the chef had a day off (and left early) the food quality at the drill site improved immeasurably when prepared by Colleen and Kath and replacement cook Leslie.

2.5 Drill Site Visitors.

2.6 Shift change - Helos and Hagglunds.

In the initial set-up and decommissioning periods prior to and after the continuous 24 hour page break drill site operations the Hagglunds were used to move personnel to and from the drill site. We could improve the efficiency and reduce the stress on personnel during these short periods in the future by using helos and this should be planned for at the beginning of the season.

When the routine 24 hour operations began helos were used for most shift changes except on the few occasions when the weather conditions did not allow flying. During these times Hagglunds were used on an established road but unfortunately the road surface conditions were drifted up because of the bad weather and a trip to the drill site often took in excess of 1.5 hours, hence shift changes were late and drill site personnel quickly became further fatigued. The project should investigate procuring a snow drag that can be towed behind the Hagglunds so that a raised snow road can be constructed and maintained that is less susceptible to drifting. Normal travel of Hagglunds to the drill site during non shift changes by support staff should be sufficient to maintain the snow road once constructed by heavy plant.

An ice road for heavy plant and sledge traffic should be maintained nearby using the same flag route marking.

2.7 Drill-site Lab and Operation

This season's improved Drill-site Lab set-up and operation generally worked very well. Some operations are still a bit cramped but tolerable (core physical properties measurements) but there is no room for further activities. It was noticeable that the day shift suffered greater disruption to the routine primarily due to visitors (see above) but personnel generally coped remarkably well. For details of 1999 requirements/purchases etc. see appendix 1 to this report.

2.8 Cargo to and from the Drill Site and New Zealand

The documentation accompanying cargo needs to be improved so that in the coming season a updated file of drill site cargo and supplies can be maintained by the Science Manager. This is required for equipment and supplies arriving both from the camp and cargo arriving by helicopter from Scott Base.

The movement of cargo from New Zealand to Scott Base and onto the drill site was generally handled well but serious delays and potential damage occurred at Scott Base when cargo was being returned to New Zealand. Even after specific requests from the CRP Liason Officer cargo still remained in the garage another two weeks because of inaction by the stores system. When this valuable and fragile scientific equipment finally returned to Wellington it was contaminated with transparent plastic pellets, sand and ash of unknown origin. I am concerned that the CRP Liason officer has to do many tasks personally that would normally be done by Scott Base staff servicing any of the New Zealand field programs.

2.9 Drill Site Environmental Audit