Loading ...For the geographically challenged, here is a map of the current eruptive zone and lava flows to the ocean. My home is not on this map. It is top center a few miles north. On the map, the yellow highlighted “PGV” is the Puna Geothermal Venture plant that now shut down. This plant has had lots of local opposition and fear of what ‘might happen’ that so far are unfounded. Because the production wells go deep (6,000 to 8,000 ft.) into hot rock or magma lots of fear abounds among the ignorant.
The latest PGV ‘hit piece’ has now appeared on Zero Hedge. I will not link to it as it is absolute rubbish. The title says it all: “Did ‘Fracking’ cause the Hawaii Volcano to Erupt?” RUBBISH!
First, fracking is NOT used in a geothermal well. But the author conflates the well drilling terms and tries to make a speculative case for it. The geothermal wells have been producing electricity for years now, with no problem. Basically, my understanding is that the deep wells are treated as high pressure gas wells and are kept well sealed. That deep, the gas they collect is Hydrogen Sulfide that is brought up to a heat exchanger, transferred heat to Pentane to run the heat engine, and pumped back underground. Fears were that Hydrogen Sulfide blowouts could cause havoc for miles around…. but none has happened, aside from minor leaks that were fixed in short order. They have removed the Pentane, so it is not an explosion hazard. Now they have quenched the wells with water and valved them off. They are ready to be covered with lava if that happens. So far, the eruptive vent has built a berm on the side nearest the PGV plant so it might not be overrun by lava. The authorities have no idea of the underground structure of the wells….. they may already be destroyed from below by moving magma. But as time progresses, I doubt that a H2S blowout will occur. And what if it does… among the tonnage of Sulfur Dioxide already being emitted by the vents it would be just another air irritant to deal with. But the raving nay-sayers continue to rave.