Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEGThe further development of exploration and exploitation technologies, as well as the exploration of the geological subsurface, requires access to geological horizons and investigations on a length scale of metres-100 metres. For this purpose, Fraunhofer IEG has a drilling team operates scientific drilling rigs for on-shore and near-shore drilling. The drilling rig BO.REX (Bochum Research and Exploration Drilling Rig) serves this purpose. The BO.REX is a conventional, mobile 40-ton drilling rig, with which approx. 8,000 metres have been drilled to depths of 500 m for research purposes. Together with the drilling rig, facilities for mud treatment, fluid circulation and cement jobs are available. In addition to the BO.REX rig, Fraunhofer IEG is commissioning an offshore drilling platform for drilling to a water depth of 300 metres in cooperation with GESEP e.V., the German Research Drilling Consortium.