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Geodynamics suffers a blow to geothermal energy hopes

  •  29 April 2009
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GEODYNAMICS has announced that there has been an explosion at its Habanero 3 well site located near Innamincka in remote South Australia.

The explosion occurred at 8:30pm local time on 24 April 2009.The company says that a loud noise was heard and it was identified that water and steam were flowing to the surface at the Habanero 3 well head.

Geodynamics says that it is taking the matter extremely seriously and is working with relevant authorities in response to this event. Geodynamics Managing Director Gerry Grove-White says that importantly no-one has been injured and the site has been secured to ensure the safety of personnel and the public.

The company says that water and steam are still flowing from Habanero 3 but well control specialists have arrived at site and are currently assessing the situation.

Operational plans to manage the incident are being developed and appropriate equipment is being mobilised to site and as a precautionary measure, the Dillons Highway has been temporarily re-directed to a distance in excess of 100m from Habanero 3.

Geodynamics says the commissioning program of the 1MW pilot plant which the company has been constructing at the site has been suspended with the commissioning crew being progressively demobilised. The timing of re-commencement of commissioning activities is currently uncertain.

Mining heat from subterranean rocks could one day provide continuous, affordable energy anywhere on Earth however this latest development has hot ‘rocked’ the clean energy future.

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