As hopes build up especially as concerns rage about the reliability of the electricity supply in Montserrat, for the quick progress of the continuation of geothermal exploration and development, there comes the announcement about the third geothermal well.
Following discussion as to the safety of the new location for the third and critical well, Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) Director Rob Stewart says MVO has been studying the risks carefully.
The third geothermal well will be safe from volcanic activity that reassurance has coming from the head of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory Rob Stewart. The proposed site for the re-injection well is in St. Georges Hill. The Geothermal Well will be in addition to the other two facilities on the Cork Hill main road, Mr. Stuart says the MVO has been studying the risks carefully.
He says that because the new drilling area is just into Zone V and is “a sort of controlled area”, “we’ve looked at it very carefully but the thing is once the well is drilled, people won’t be working there and we’ve agreed with a decision on how to design the well and have a sort of bunker around it.”
Supporting the decision he explains: “I mean a pyroclastic flow has never reached where they’re drilling a well, the pyroclastic surge has never reach there, but there’s an outside opportunity,” adding, “the wellhead itself will be protected, so even if it is hit by pyroclastic flow it will not be damaged and it will not damage the project.”
He strengthened by confirming, “…and modeling it and we’ve come up with a solution that meets both the requirements of the geothermal design project but also meets the safety requirements we need.”
Recent reports from DFID and government said that the location has been secured and work should begin soon.
