A PACIFIC-WIDE GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH LABORATORY: THE PUNA GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH FACILITY Page: 1 of 8
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PROCEEDINGS, Tenth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering
Stanford University, Stanford, California, January 22-24, 1985
SGP-TR-84
A PACIFIC-WIDE GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH LABOARY:
THE PUNA GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH FACILITY
Patrick Takahashi, Arthur Seki, and Bill Chen
University of Hawaii
2540 Dole Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822ABSTRACT
The Hawaii Geothermal Project (HGP-A) well,
located in the Kilauea volcano east rift
zone, was drilled to a depth of 6450 feet in
1976. It is considered to be one of the hot-
test producing geothermal wells in the
world. This single well provides 52,800
pounds per hour of 371OF and 160 pounds per
square inch-absolute (psia) steam to a 3-
megawatt power plant, while the separated
brine is discharged in percolating ponds.
About 50,000 pounds per hour of 368*F and 155
psia brine is discharged.
Geothermal energy development has increased
steadily in Hawaii since the completion of
HGP-A in 1976:
o a 3 megawatt power plant at HGP-A
was completed and has been oper-
ating since 1981;
o Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO)
has requested that their next in-
crement in power production be
from geothermal steam;
o three development consortia are
actively, or in the process of,
drilling geothermal exploration
wells on the Big Island; and
o engineering work on the develop-
ment of a 400 megawatt undersea
cable for energy transmission is
continuing, with exploratory dis-
cussions being initiated on other
alternatives such as hydrogen.
The purpose for establishing the Puna Geo-
thermal Research Facility (PGRF) is multi-
fold. PGRF will provide a facility in Puna
for high technology research, development,
and demonstration in geothermal and related
activities; initiate an industrial park de-
velopment; and examine multi purpose dehydra-
tion and biomass applications related to geo-
thermal energy utilization.
INTRODUCTION
The Hawaii Geothermal Project (HGP) began inCON F-850107-33
1972 when the state legislature allocated
$200,000 for geothermal research to identify
and utilize geothermal resources in Hawaii.
The initial effort, which was also funded by
the National Science Foundation, started in
mid-1973 on the Island of Hawaii with the
University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) and Hilo
campuses conducting geophysical, geochemical,
engineering, environmental, and socio-
economic programs.
After the researchers identified a well site
in the Puna District on the east rift of
Kilauea Volcano (see Figures 1 and 2), a
drilling program was initiated in 1975 with
funding from the Energy Research and Develop-
ment Agency, State, and County of Hawaii.
HGP-A well, named after the late Agatin T.
Abbott, Professor of Geology at UHM, was com-
pleted to a depth of 6,450 feet in April
u/na
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Figure 1. Map of Hawaii-201-
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Takahashi, P.; Seki, A. & Chen, B. A PACIFIC-WIDE GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH LABORATORY: THE PUNA GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH FACILITY, article, January 22, 1985; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc884331/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.