Multisatellite Imaging of a Gas Well Blowout Enables Quantification of Total Methane Emissions

Incidents involving loss of control oil/gas wells can result in large but variable emissions whose impact on the global methane budget is currently unknown. On November 1, 2019, a gas well blowout was reported Eagle Ford Shale. By combining satellite observations at different spatial and temporal scales, we quantified 10 times during 20-day event. Our multisatellite synthesis captures both short-term dynamics total integrated blowout. Such detailed event characterization previously not possible from space difficult to do with surface measurements. We present 30-m carbon dioxide plumes PRISMA satellite, which let us estimate flare combustion efficiency (87%). Integrating across all satellites, 4,800 ± 980 metric tons lost methane. Blowouts occur globe help determine their pervasiveness, enable corrective action, quantify contribution budgets.