Study shows satellite discovered methane leak at Turkmenistan oil and gas field

Study shows satellite discovered methane leak at Turkmenistan oil and gas field
Atmospheric methane levels, as observed at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii and reported by U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. / Earth System Research Laboratory.
By bne IntelliNews November 25, 2019

Montreal-based GHGSat said in a study published on November 22 that it discovered a methane leak equivalent to the fumes of a million cars deriving from unlit flaring in the Korpezhe oil and gas field in western Turkmenistan, Bloomberg reported. 

It marked the first time that a discovery of an unknown methane leak was made from space. The finding was made during a search for emissions from mud volcanoes. GHGSat notified Turkmen authorities via Canadian and European diplomatic channels about the release, shown in images captured from early 2018 through February this year. The emissions stopped in May, after the Turkmen state-run field operator was informed.  

The sequence of events demonstrated the possibility of using satellites “to enable corrective action to fight climate change,” according to the research published by the American Geophysical Union’s Geophysical Research Letters journal. It comes at a time when the oil and gas industry faces mounting pressure to reduce emissions of methane, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases.

Two more emissions were discovered in the Central Asian region, including one from a pipeline, possibly caused by a valve release, and a smaller one caused by an unlit flare.

Read in IntelliNews Pro
Get IntelliNews Pro

Related Articles

France's spending on Russian LNG surges to over €600mn this year

France's spending on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) surged to over €600mn this year, EU data reveals, Politico reports. The increase comes as French President Emmanuel Macron becomes ... more

What next for oil markets after Iranian strike on Israel?

WHAT: Oil prices have fallen following Iran's strike against military facilities in Israel. WHY: The risk of escalation was largely priced in last week in anticipation of the strike, and Israel ... more

LNG imports improving EU energy security as Russian gas supplies fall to 8% of gas imports

Liquefied natural gas helps make Europe’s gas supply more secure as it doesn’t rely on existing pipeline infrastructure, allowing EU countries to diversify the sources of their imports, the ... more

Follow Us On

Most Read

  1. Iran vs Israel: Who is better equipped for war?
    6 days ago
  2. Saudi Arabia to scale back plans for Neom city
    10 days ago
  3. Oil continues to flow to Israel via Turkey despite Erdogan’s vehement speeches on plight of Gaza
    5 months ago
  4. BREAKING: Iraq, Syria and Jordan close airspace amid Iranian strike on Israel
    6 days ago
  5. Russia’s war economy boosted by rising oil prices
    4 days ago
  1. Russia could pay off its entire external debt tomorrow, in cash
    20 days ago
  2. Speculation swirls of “Men in Blue” in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack linked to FSB
    25 days ago
  3. Albanians campaign on social media to keep bus bridge created in freak accident
    1 year ago
  4. UBN: Russia could take the Baltic states in 48 hours
    30 days ago
  5. BRICS announce a blockchain-based payment system to create a common currency
    23 days ago

Reports

Dismiss