Puna Geothermal Venture plans to start drilling later this month to clear a blocked injection well at the Pahoa-area power plant.
The work is scheduled to begin April 21 and will involve 12 days of drilling over the course of about a month, said Mike Kaleikini, senior director of Hawaiian affairs for Ormat Technologies, PGV’s parent company.
The move is expected to boost production at the plant, which is operating below capacity, by 8 megawatts, he said.
The geothermal power plant has contracts with Hawaii Electric Light Co. to provide 38 megawatts, but it is only producing about 28 megawatts. HELCO says it makes up the difference by increasing production at its oil-powered plants.
Kaleikini said part of the problem is the well appears to be partially blocked, allowing less fluid to be re-injected deep into the ground.
Plant officials hope to sidestep that by drilling at a slight angle at 4,400 feet down.
The target depth is 7,000 feet.
Drilling will occur around-the-clock despite a county ordinance restricting drilling to daytime hours.
Kaleikini said drilling needs to occur 24 hours a day for safety reasons. PGV also believes its geothermal resource permit overrides the ordinance passed in 2012.
The plant is currently facing a lawsuit from several nearby residents hoping to prevent night-time drilling.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.