Lethal Leaks – On the Track of Escaping Methane

Science 44' 2022 HD

Every year over 80 million tons of methane escapes into the atmosphere from the oil and gas industry. The extremely hazardous greenhouse gas is the main component of natural gas. Using special cameras, satellite images and data analytics, scientists are on a quest for those responsible. Step by step they reveal badly maintained installations, indifference and profit avarice in the extraction of oil and gas. This is persistently denied, though, by many companies. At the same time, the technology for preventing methane leaking out of extraction plants and pipelines has long been available.