Satellites Detect Abatable Super-Emissions in One of the World's Largest Methane Hotspot Regions

Reduction of fossil fuel-related methane emissions has been identified as an essential means for climate change mitigation, but emission source identification remains elusive for most oil and gas production basins in the world. We combine three complementary satellite data sets to survey single methane emission sources on the west coast of Turkmenistan, one of the largest methane hotspots in the world. We found 29 different emitters, with emission rates >1800 kg/h, active in the 2017-2020 time period, although older satellite data show that this type of emission has been occurring for decades. We find that all sources are linked to extraction fields mainly dedicated to crude oil production, where 24 of them are inactive flares venting gas. The analysis of time series suggests a causal relationship between the decrease in flaring and the increase in venting. At the regional level, 2020 shows a substantial increase in the number of methane plume detections concerning previous years. Our results suggest that these large venting point sources represent a key mitigation opportunity as they emanate from human-controlled facilities, and that new satellite methods promise a revolution in the detection and monitoring of methane point emissions worldwide.

Automated summary

Reducing methane emissions from fossil fuel sources is crucial for mitigating climate change. In this study, we used satellite data to identify and analyze methane emission sources in Turkmenistan. We found 29 different sources, mainly associated with crude oil production fields. Our findings suggest that these sources represent a significant opportunity for mitigation efforts, and that new satellite methods can revolutionize the detection and monitoring of methane emissions worldwide.