The full results are presented in the accompanying tables. In summary, the permeabilities of the four samples tested ranged from 10–15 to 10–18 m2.
The permeability of Sample 190-1173A-13H-4, 86–101 cm, ranged from 10–16 to 10–17 m2 at effective pressures of 50, 100, and 150 kPa (Table T2). The permeability of Sample 190-1173A-18H-6, 20–40 cm, ranged from 10–15 to 10–17 m2 at effective pressures of 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kPa (Table T3). The permeability of Sample 190-1174B-27R-3, 120–137 cm, ranged from 10–16 to 10–18 m2 at effective pressures of 50, 75, 100, and 150 kPa (Table T4). The permeability of Sample 190-1174B-33R-4, 20–35 cm, ranged from 10–16 to 10–18 m2 at effective pressures of 50, 100, 150, 250, 350, and 450 kPa (Table T5).
Permeabilities measured at 25 kPa effective pressure (10–15 m2) were one order of magnitude higher than those measured at 50 kPa. With increases of effective pressure up to 450 kPa, permeability decreased to a minimum of 10–18 m2 (Fig. F2).
At an effective pressure of 150 kPa, the permeability of Samples 190-1173A-18H-6, 20–40 cm, 190-1174B-27R-3, 120–137 cm, and 190-1174B-33R-4, 20–35 cm, was 10–17 m2 and that of Sample 190-1173A-18H-6, 20–40 cm, was 10–16 m2.
None of the samples contain visible deformation structures. Overall, the sample tending to show the highest permeability, in some circumstances by two or three orders of magnitude, is 190-1173A-18H-6, 20–40 cm. This sample, which contains ash laminations, was taken from a section with abundant volcanic ash. The remaining samples, showing generally lower permeabilities, consist entirely of hemipelagic mud. These preliminary results therefore suggest that although varying effective pressures and flow rates have an effect on permeability, the primary control is lithology.