Why not just drill a few holes in the sucker and let the lava and gases out to prevent the big build-up?
The lava this volcano has is thicker than taffy, much like what Mt St Helens is producing.
Drilling may introduce water or other fluids into contact with the lava.
When water meets magma in a volcano, it flashes to steam and blows up.
Usually called a phreatic explosion in a volcano.
If lava particles come with it, it's a phreatomagmatic explosion.
Seems like a good idea, but it would likely create more problems than it would fix.