Drilling is the main method that scientists use to sample rocks or deploy instruments at depth within the Earth's crust. Scientific drilling has played a key role in our exploration of the oceans and continents, and in deciphering the geological history of our planet.
Technologies to drill, sample, and make down-hole measurements are highly specialised and usually expensive. These technologies were mostly developed by the petroleum, mining, and geothermal industries, but they have been adopted and adapted by scientists and developed into large international research programmes:
New Zealand universities and GNS Science are active participants in these international programmes:
Contact the DRILLNZ office here.