From a high vantage point above Earth, a satellite orbits the planet daily. This satellite is on a mission to hunt for methane gas leaks—a colorless, highly polluting gas that is significantly warming the planet.
Measurements from the satellite have identified the “most dangerous culprit” behind climate change worldwide.
The MethaneSAT satellite is a new generation satellite specifically designed to detect emission sources from anywhere in the world. When combined with the computational power and artificial intelligence capabilities of Google, the data provided by this satellite is used to analyze and map oil and gas infrastructure.
An artist’s depiction of the MethaneSAT satellite, designed to measure global methane pollution levels. (Photo: MethaneSAT).
Until now, measuring methane leaks has been expensive, relying on aircraft and handheld infrared cameras. This method only provides a snapshot at a given time, and it takes years of data collection and research before results can be published.
Mapping oil and gas operations is challenging. The locations of drilling wells, industrial pumps, and storage tanks change rapidly, necessitating frequent updates to maps. A satellite can fulfill this requirement.
Initial findings from MethaneSAT recently reported that the oil and gas industry is emitting methane at an average rate 3 to 5 times higher than estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency, far exceeding industry projections for 2023.
The Permian Basin (USA), one of the most productive oil and gas basins in the world, is leaking methane at rates 9 to 14.5 times above the limits set by the industry. Meanwhile, the Appalachian Basin (USA) is experiencing methane leaks at four times the established limits. In the state of Utah (USA), the recorded leakage rate is 45 times the regulated limit.
“This is indeed a significant discovery. The images we are starting to see are truly extraordinary in terms of the overall accuracy of the data”, said Ritesh Gautam, a senior scientist at MethaneSAT.
Naturally occurring gas is flared in Andrews, Texas, part of the Permian Basin, in March 2022. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images).
Methane pollution has long been underestimated and not well understood, yet natural gas is composed of up to 90% methane. What scientists know is that methane retains heat approximately 80 times more effectively than carbon dioxide in the first 20 years in the atmosphere.
“Underestimating actual methane emissions means underestimating their warming impact. Given the potency of methane, this is truly a problem. If we do not understand the scale of the issue, our mitigation efforts will not be strong enough,” said Antoine Halff, co-founder and chief analyst at the environmental monitoring group Kayrros.
“Shocking Discoveries”
Initial reports from the satellite have been shocking. Over half a million wells produce only 6% to 7% of oil and gas in the USA but account for about 50% of the industry’s methane pollution.
The satellite also collects data from two other major oil-producing countries: Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
The problem is particularly severe in the South Caspian Basin of Turkmenistan, one of the largest methane hotspots on the planet. According to the data, this area is releasing methane at 1.5 times the rate of the Permian Basin (USA)—specifically, more than 970,000 pounds per hour.
Scientists have confidence in the MethaneSAT data as it aligns with prior research findings.
“A 2023 analysis by the Kayrros team on global methane pollution shows that Turkmenistan has the highest oil and gas methane intensity in the world, even though emissions have decreased,” Halff noted.
According to Halff, Turkmenistan is a major oil and gas producing country with aging infrastructure. Decrepit equipment tends to leak more.
The MethaneSAT satellite has also provided the first images of methane emissions from Venezuela, a South American oil-rich country with the largest oil reserves in the world. However, due to Venezuela’s tropical location and frequent cloud cover, capturing methane emissions in this region has often been challenging.
“What remains is observing methane amidst the clouds. For the first time, the satellite reveals significant emission hotspots in persistently cloudy areas like Venezuela,” Gautam stated.
“Addressing methane emission issues will play a crucial role in slowing the pace of the climate crisis. Reducing methane pollution is the fastest way to curb the rate of the climate crisis, so the oil and gas industry must further accelerate methane reduction efforts,” said Rob Jackson, Chair of the Global Carbon Project and a climate professor at Stanford University.
Jackson emphasized that the climate crisis still requires a real solution: completely phasing out fossil fuels.
