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| The arrows show the location of four 20-year-old geothermal research wells in lower Puna. Two have already been plugged, and the state has plans to plug the two others. Map courtesy DLNR. |
The Hawaiian Scientific Observation Hole Program consisted of three wells drilled in in the early 1990s to obtain cores from Kilauea volcano’s east rift zone.
One of the two wells to be plugged, SOH-1, is located on land in Pohoiki leased by Puna Geothermal Venture, the state’s only active geothermal energy plant. The other, SOH-2, is located several miles to the northeast towards Kapoho.
According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the project involves the placing of cement plugs in the wells which would be filled with mud and sand. The top segments of the well casing as well as any above-ground structures will be removed and the site restored to its “natural condition.”
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