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Methods for Global Survey of Natural Gas Flaring from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Data

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher D. Elvidge

    (Earth Observation Group, National Centers for Environmental Information, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80205, USA)

  • Mikhail Zhizhin

    (Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
    Russian Space Research Institute, Moscow 117997, Russia)

  • Kimberly Baugh

    (Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA)

  • Feng-Chi Hsu

    (Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA)

  • Tilottama Ghosh

    (Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA)

Abstract

A set of methods are presented for the global survey of natural gas flaring using data collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NASA/NOAA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The accuracy of the flared gas volume estimates is rated at ±9.5%. VIIRS is particularly well suited for detecting and measuring the radiant emissions from gas flares through the collection of shortwave and near-infrared data at night, recording the peak radiant emissions from flares. In 2012, a total of 7467 individual flare sites were identified. The total flared gas volume is estimated at 143 (±13.6) billion cubic meters (BCM), corresponding to 3.5% of global production. While the USA has the largest number of flares, Russia leads in terms of flared gas volume. Ninety percent of the flared gas volume was found in upstream production areas, 8% at refineries and 2% at liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals. The results confirm that the bulk of natural gas flaring occurs in upstream production areas. VIIRS data can provide site-specific tracking of natural gas flaring for use in evaluating efforts to reduce and eliminate routine flaring.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher D. Elvidge & Mikhail Zhizhin & Kimberly Baugh & Feng-Chi Hsu & Tilottama Ghosh, 2015. "Methods for Global Survey of Natural Gas Flaring from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Data," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2015:i:1:p:14-:d:61326
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonibare, J.A. & Akeredolu, F.A., 2006. "Natural gas domestic market development for total elimination of routine flares in Nigeria's upstream petroleum operations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 743-753, April.
    2. Christopher D. Elvidge & Daniel Ziskin & Kimberly E. Baugh & Benjamin T. Tuttle & Tilottama Ghosh & Dee W. Pack & Edward H. Erwin & Mikhail Zhizhin, 2009. "A Fifteen Year Record of Global Natural Gas Flaring Derived from Satellite Data," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-28, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yongxue Liu & Yuling Pu & Xueying Hu & Yanzhu Dong & Wei Wu & Chuanmin Hu & Yuzhong Zhang & Songhan Wang, 2023. "Global declines of offshore gas flaring inadequate to meet the 2030 goal," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(9), pages 1095-1102, September.
    2. Caihong Ma & Xin Sui & Yi Zeng & Jin Yang & Yanmei Xie & Tianzhu Li & Pengyu Zhang, 2022. "Classification of Industrial Heat Source Objects Based on Active Fire Point Density Segmentation and Spatial Topological Correlation Analysis in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Lu, Rong, 2020. "Application of machine learning to gas flaring," Thesis Commons g6yvq, Center for Open Science.
    4. Bhaskar Sinha & Supriyo Roy & Manju Bhagat, 2020. "Sustainable Green Policy by Managing Flare Gas Recovery: A Case with Middle East Oil and Gas Industry," Vision, , vol. 24(1), pages 35-46, March.
    5. Hamza Semmari & Abdelkader Filali & Sofiane Aberkane & Renaud Feidt & Michel Feidt, 2020. "Flare Gas Waste Heat Recovery: Assessment of Organic Rankine Cycle for Electricity Production and Possible Coupling with Absorption Chiller," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Keyang Zhou & Yutian Liang & Chen Zhong & Jiaqi Zeng & Zhengke Zhou, 2022. "Spatial Features of Urban Expansion in Vietnam Based on Long-Term Nighttime Lights Data," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-12, April.

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