Site Summaries
Site: EQP-1A
Priority: Primary
Position: 3°05.70'S, 90°49.08'W
Water Depth: 3296 m
Sediment Thickness: 420 m
Target Drilling Depth: Through sediment-basement transition
Approved Maximum Penetration: 400 m (to 450 m requested from PPSP)
Seismic Coverage: Thomas Washington Venture I line G, same position as ODP Site 846.
See seismic line.
Objectives:
1) Test if the accepted microbial paradigm (of respiration control by standard free energy) is
violated by methanogenesis in sulfate-rich open-ocean sediments.
2) Examine how subsurface (up from basement) hydrologic flow affects microbiological
community structure and sediment chemistry in relatively organic-poor sediments with sulfate
rich pore waters.
Drilling Program: APC to refusal, XCB to and a couple of meters into basement. At least two holes, possibly three. Test site for PCS. May require additional mudline cores.
Logging and Downhole Program: Triple combo, possible FMS, APC-temperature, DVTP, and APC methane tool.
Nature of Rock Anticipated: Carbonate (mostly nannofossil) ooze and siliceous (both diatom and radiolarian) ooze, basaltic basement.
