China conducts deep-sea seabed drilling in South China Sea

[Beidou2020]

China's first domestically-made 60-meter submersible deep-sea driller completed its first trial run in the South China Sea and returned to east China's Fujian Province. The "Sea Bull", which the scientists call the machine, drilled 60 meters into the seabed under 3,000 meters of water to collect samples. Its successful return means that China has become the fourth country in the world to have the technology. The six-meter tall Sea Bull weighs eight ton and has a circumference of 10 meters. It has gone through rigorous compression tests to see if it can withstand water presssure at more than 3,000 meters. Each small area amounts to the size of a finger nail and should withstand 300 kilograms of pressure, about the total weight of four adults. The drill rods are designed for different rocks on the seabed as some are hard while others softer.

 

[TaiShang]

China's first domestically-made 60-meter submersible deep-sea driller completed its first trial run in the South China Sea and returned to east China's Fujian Province. The "Sea Bull", which the scientists call the machine, drilled 60 meters into the seabed under 3,000 meters of water to collect samples. Its successful return means that China has become the fourth country in the world to have the technology. The six-meter tall Sea Bull weighs eight ton and has a circumference of 10 meters. It has gone through rigorous compression tests to see if it can withstand water presssure at more than 3,000 meters. Each small area amounts to the size of a finger nail and should withstand 300 kilograms of pressure, about the total weight of four adults. The drill rods are designed for different rocks on the seabed as some are hard while others softer.

China's new contribution to the world scientific development.