Scientists Say They’ve Detected a Huge Methane Leak in Kazakhstan
Satellite imagery suggests large-scale release of the potent greenhouse gas, though the company developing the well claims it is mainly hot vapor.
A methane plume in eastern Kazakhstan observed by satellite on July 23.
Source: Kayrros SAS. Data generated by Kayrros under a license from ASI Original PRISMA Product - © Italian Space Agency (ASI) - (2023)
A natural gas well blowout in a remote region in Kazakhstan has triggered a huge methane leak, scientists say, showing the risks of prospecting for fossil fuels.
Satellites observed giant clouds of methane spewing from the site at least nine times in the month leading up to July 23, French geoanalytics firm Kayrros SAS said. Its findings were broadly corroborated by scientists at SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research.