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Puna Geothermal in Hawaii to start drilling injection well this month

Puna Geothermal in Hawaii to start drilling injection well this month Puna Geothermal Power Plant, Big Island, Hawaii (source: betterplace.com)
Alexander Richter 11 Apr 2016

Puna Geothermal Venture will start drilling a new injection well for its geothermal power plant in Hawaii to help it bring it back to full capacity.

As reported locally, Puna Geothermal Venture, the only geothermal power plant in the State of Hawaii, plans to start drilling this month. The plan is to clear a blocked injection well at the plant.

Starting April 21, there are 12 days planned for the drilling over a one-month period. With the drilling it is planned to bring the plant back to its full capacity. Currently the plant operates at 28 MW capacity but has an installed capacity of 38 MW.

HELCO, the Hawaii Electric utility is currently covering the missing capacity with oil powered plants.

The target depth for the well is 7,000 feet (around 2,100 meters).

Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald