Lava From Kilauea Volcano Reaches Well at Geothermal Power Plant

https://gizmodo.com ^ | 5/28/18 | George Dvorsky

[BBell]

Lava from Hawaii’s erupting Kilauea volcano has reached the Puna Geothermal Venture plant, covering a well and threatening another. At the same time, fast-moving lava flows are now threatening nearby communities, prompting new evacuations.

“Lava flow from Fissures 7 and 21 crossed into PGV [Puna Geothermal Venture] property overnight and has now covered one well that was successfully plugged,” declared the Hawaii Civil Defense Agency in a statement released on Sunday, May 27 at 6:00 pm local time. “That well, along with a second well 100 feet [30 meters] away, are stable and secured, and are being monitored. Also due to preventative measures, neither well is expected to release any hydrogen sulfide.”

Those preventive measures included a complete shutdown of the geothermal plant, the capping of all 11 wells, and the removal of some 60,000 gallons of flammable liquid. Those precautions aside, this is the first time in history—as far as we know—that lava has ever engulfed a geothermal power plant, so it’s all uncharted territory. There’s fear that a rupture of the wells could set off an explosion, releasing hydrogen sulfide and other dangerous gasses into the environment. As of this posting, the lava flows on the PGV grounds have stopped moving.

Residents have been worrying about such a scenario since the plant went online nearly three decades ago. Over the years, PGV owners have faced lawsuits questioning its decision to place the plant so close to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, as Reuters reports. The 38-megawatt PGV facility provides about 25 percent of power to the Big Island.

Meanwhile, sections of the nearby Leilani Estates community had to be evacuated owing to fast-moving lava from Fissure 7, one of 24 cracks that have opened up since the eruptions began on May 3.

At 7:00 pm local time yesterday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a statement warning that “a large perched lava pond created by lava flow from Fissure 7 breached, creating a fast-moving lava flow that ran down Leilani Avenue and Luana Street in Leilani Estates.” The same fissure is spewing lava at heights reaching 150 to 200 feet (45 to 60 meters), and generating a spatter rampart that’s now 100 feet (30 meters) tall. Residents were told to expect power and water interruptions, and that they should be prepared to evacuate with little or no notice.

For some, that notice came a mere 45 minutes later, with the USGS declaring at 7:45 pm, “Leilani Estates residents on Nohea St and Luana St between Leilani Ave and Kahukai, and Kupono Street between Malama Street and Leilani Avenue need to evacuate immediately due to a fast-moving lava flow from Fissure 7.” Fleeing residents were told to seek shelter at nearby community centers.

The USGS is also warning of new ground cracking, and possible new outbreaks of lava flows. An evacuation plan is currently in place should Highway 130 be covered in lava, a development that would sever the community from the rest of the Big Island. US Marine Corps stationed at a base near Honolulu have a pair of CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters ready should this happen.

The crater at Kilauea is continuing to erupt sporadically, spewing ash into the air. On Sunday, the volcano produced an ash column that reached 10,000 feet high (3 km). “Additional explosive events that could produce minor amounts of ashfall downwind are possible at any time,” wrote the USGS. “Volcanic gas emissions at the summit remain high.”

Adding insult to injury, the Pacific Trade Winds are expected to diminish today, expanding the area impacted by vog—a noxious haze comprised of sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases.

Another day, another batch of headaches. Hopefully, this will all end soon.

[caww]

Pāhoehoe lava advancing west from fissure 7 (lava fountain in background) on Leilani Avenue. Fissure 7 activity increased overnight, with lava fountains reaching 50 to 60 m (164 to 197 ft) high. (5/27/2018)

Aerial view of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera and an ash plume billowing from Halema‘uma‘u, a crater within the caldera. The USGS–Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's Jaggar Museum are visible on the caldera rim (center right); Kīlauea Military Camp can be seen in the lower right. Photo courtesy of the Civil Air Patrol. (5/26/2018)

[M Kehoe]

Baraq 0bama’s fault.

5.56mm

[caww]

An aerial view, looking west, of the two active ocean entries on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone.... The large white plume (foreground) is the eastern ocean entry; the weaker, western plume can be seen in the distance.... The white plume, referred to as "laze," is a mixture of condensed acidic steam, hydrochloric acid gas, and tiny shards of volcanic glass that can irritate lungs, eyes and skin.

[PGalt]

Thanks to all posters. Interesting.

[Billthedrill]

That top pic in 21 is pretty impressive. Nothing lowers the price of real estate like a 200-ft lava fountain in the backyard.

[M Kehoe]

Thanks for the pics.

Jaggar has a museum on the Big island?

5.56mm

[caww]

View of a rising ash plume from Halema‘uma‘u, a crater 'at the summit of Kīlauea,' late (May 24, 2018), as seen from the caldera rim near Volcano House. USGS scientists are stationed at this vantage point to track the ongoing summit explosions.

[PAR35]

And what triggered the earthquakes? (if you really want to stay on-message for ‘green’ energy, say “global warming”.

When is the last time you saw a volcano erupt next to a coal fired power plant?

[caww]

Ongoing lower East Rift Zone eruption, HVO geologists noted that fissures 6, 13 and 22 were still erupting, with two channelized flows reaching the ocean. The eastern lava channel splits just before reaching the ocean, so it has two entry points, creating a total of three ocean entries on the flow field.

[bert]

It is now possible to tap the geothermal heat on the surface and need not drill for it

[BBell]

Is it going to be a catastrophe!!! I honestly don’t know how bad it could get. It seems like it is being monitored alright. It was known that Mt. St. Helens was going to erupt. It was just not known when but there were evacuations done before the big eruption.

[bert]

For the record..... there are several very good youtube videos of ten minutes or so describing the events very well

[caww]

first group of wells location

[caww]

"Path of Destruction"....From 3,000 feet above, one can see the path of destruction left by the lava flowing from the volcano Kilauea.

[caww]

Vocano 'summit' from space...5/28/2018

[caww]

Moon, Jupiter and ash from Kilauea volcano 95/27/2018

[Charles Martel]

That map shows that people cause earthquakes. Likely due to all the little micro pounding of their constant foot steps.

Look at all those footsteps leading north to California! Unchecked immigration is a direct cause of earthquakes (hey, if the Left can use half-baked theories, let's return fire).

[caww]

This was an open cow pasture with tall grass just a few days ago

[caww]

This picture of the proximity of lava to the Puna Geothermal Venture plant 3 days ago. 5/25/2018

[caww]

Aerial view proximity of lava to the Puna Geothermal Venture plant