Scientists reveal large methane leak in remote region of Kazakhstan

Scientists were able to identify an important methane leak in a remote region of Kazakhstan, which arose from the explosion of a natural gas well on June 9, 2023. Satellite images clearly show the presence of huge blocks of methane emitted from the site. Both the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-5B satellite and the Italian Space Agency’s Presma satellite have confirmed the extent of methane leakage.

Bozachi Neft indicated that the leak was minimal and that methane was consumed by a fire. However, experts who rely on satellite surveillance to track greenhouse gas emissions differ in their views. They confirm that images are very likely to show something other than methane, as the high spectrum resolution of satellites leaves no room for doubt about the nature of the gas observed.

Methane emissions are a major cause of global warming, contributing to about 30% of increased global temperatures since the industrial revolution. Currently, methane concentration in the atmosphere is increasing at a rate of about 1% per year. Methane’s ability to increase temperature during the first 20 years in the atmosphere is more than 80 times more carbon dioxide, making it a significant contributor to global warming.
As a result, there is an urgent need to control and regulate methane emissions. It is estimated that methane leaks in Kazakhstan release the same amount of greenhouse gases as between 814 thousand and 2.49 million cars per year. In response to the risks associated with fossil fuel exploration and the need to counter these emissions, countries such as the European Union and the United States are developing new regulations to reduce methane leakage.

In addition, some 150 countries have committed to realizing the global promise of methane, an initiative that aims to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by the end of this decade. The Government of Kazakhstan cooperated with the developers of the well to plug the leak, by following procedures such as drilling wells for relief and igniting control pumps for regulated inflammation. The plan also includes submerging the explosion site with water to stop the flow of gas and then shutting it down by September 1 this year.