A well at Puna Geothermal Venture is offline after failing during an annual test on Tuesday.
A well at Puna Geothermal Venture is offline after failing during an annual test on Tuesday.
Mike Kaleikini, plant manager, said nitrogen escaped through a release valve during the test, causing a roaring sound loud enough to be heard by some nearby residents.
PGV uses nitrogen to test the structural integrity of the wells; no harmful gases were released, he said.
“There’s a piping in the well that we suspect developed hole,” Kaleikini said. “But we need to pull the pipe to know for sure.”
He said replacing the pipe could take approximately a month. Kaleikini said production has been reduced as a result but he didn’t know by how much.
He said there’s no indication that the well was releasing any gas before the test.
Stefan and Hallie Larsson, nearby residents to PGV, described the release, occurring shortly after 6 p.m., as sounding like a freight train or airplane taking off.