Observation is one of a number of satellite images that Bloomberg Green will publish to document global methane emissions during the COP27 climate negotiations.
The satellite image shows methane emissions from China’s largest oilfield. It was taken less than 48 hours ago. This image is part of a series Bloomberg Green will publish at COP27 using data from the emissions monitoring firm GHGSat Inc.
This detection highlights the growing ability of satellites, which can identify and track methane anywhere in the globe, to drive a new era in climate transparency. In this era greenhouse gases will be quantified in real-time and assigned to specific assets and companies in near real-time. According to scientists, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which have an 84-fold warming power than carbon dioxide in its first 20 years, is the fastest, and cheapest way to cool the planet.
Methane, which is the main component of natural gas, accounts for around 30% of Earth’s warming. While leaks can happen during the extraction and transportation of fossil fuels, methane can also be generated from oil and coal production. If operators don’t have the infrastructure to bring the gas to market, they could release it into the atmosphere. International Energy Agency (IEA) has urged oil and gas companies to stop all non-emergency methane venting.
According to GHGSat, the satellite image was taken at 1:15 PM Beijing time on November 4. It shows six methane emissions in northeast China coming from the Daqing oilfield. The Montreal-based company stated that the estimated emissions rates were between 446 to 884 kilograms per hour and the cumulative rate at 4,477 kilograms per hour. The short-term climate impact of the emissions would be the same as those from approximately 81 US automobiles if they lasted an hour.
PetroChina, the operator of the Daqing oilfield, didn’t respond to an email on Sunday seeking comment outside of normal business hours. A faxed request for comments from China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment was not immediately returned by the Ministry.
According to the Methane Tracker of the International Energy Agency, China is the largest global source of methane-related energy emissions. It produced an estimated 28 million tons of methane last year. Russia came in second place with 18 million tonnes and 17 million, respectively.
China is the largest coal miner in the world and the fourth-largest producer of natural gas. It also ranks sixth for crude oil output. China has not yet signed the Global Methane Pledge. This initiative, which is led by the US and EU, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020. The effort has been joined by more than 120 countries.
Multi-spectral satellites are being launched by more companies and institutions to detect methane’s unique signature. GHGSat currently has six satellites orbiting for industrial methane monitoring and plans to launch five more by next year. The US non-profit Environmental Defense Fund plans to launch its MethaneSAT satellite in 2023. A consortium which includes Carbon Mapper, California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Planet Labs will launch two satellites next.
According to the IEA, around 40% of methane emissions from human activity come from the energy sector. More than 40% of oil- and gas emissions could be reduced with existing technologies at no cost. Because captured gas can be used to make energy or heat, it can also be sold as a product. Natural gas is primarily composed of methane.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, the largest year-on-year increase in atmospheric methane concentrations since measurement began forty years ago was recorded.
