Priority: 2
Position: 47°42.63´N; 127°47.37´W
Water Depth: 2687 m
Sediment Thickness: 40, 95, 135 m
Total Penetration: 40, 95, 135 mbsf (some basement penetration if possible)
Seismic Coverage: Line 95-23b, SP 60, 55, and 50 (Fig. 7, Appendix 1B)
Objectives: At the Permeable Penetrators site relatively rugged relief of the igneous crust is buried by sediment everywhere, except at three small volcanic edifices where fluids vent through the seafloor. Holes spanning the primary basement relief will allow the buoyancy forces that drive fluid flow to be determined; holes into one of the permeable basement outcrops will allow the rate and history of discharge to be determined. The holes will extend the overall drilling transect to 3.5 Ma. Drilling at this site would address the same objectives as at PP-6A, but the sediment cover will permit drilling if bare-rock spud-in at Site PP-6A is not possible.
Drilling Program: APC/XCB
Logging and Downhole: Frequent APC temperature measurements
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Turbidite sediments, highly altered basalt