1. Preliminary Estimation of Annual Gas Flaring Volumes in South and East Asia Chris Elvidge NOAA – National Geophysical Data Center 325 Broadway, E/GC2 Boulder, Colorado 80305, U.S.A Email: chris.elvidge@noaa.gov K.E. Baugh, B.T. Tuttle, A.T. Howard and P.J. Hayes University of Colorado – CIRES 325 Broadway E/GC2 Boulder, Colorado 80305, U.S.A E.H. Erwin NOAA – National Geophysical Data Center 325 Broadway, E/GC2 Boulder, Colorado 80305, U.S.A April 26, 2006

2. Exxon-Mobil Amenam Platform, Nigeria Crude oil contains associated hydrocarbon gases. When brought to surface the gases are released. Where there is no market for the gas the industry standard for disposal is flaring. Venting also occurs – releasing unburnt gases directly into the atmosphere. Alternatives include reinjection, on-site power generation, and transport to markets. The Gas Flaring Issue

3. How Much Gas Is Flared? A number of countries report gas flaring volumes, but these are not all viewed as reliable. The World Bank Global Gas Flaring Reduction Initiative (GGFR) estimates that a 150 billion cubic meters (BCM) of gas is flared or vented per year. This is equivalent to 25% of US consumption. There is large uncertainty in the estimates since reporting is voluntary and the activity occurs primarily in remote locations. GGFR 2004 Reported Values In Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) Nigeria24.1 Russia14.7 Iran13.3 Iraq 8.6 Angola 6.8 Venezuela 5.4 Qatar 4.5 Algeria 4.3 Eq. Guinea 3.6 Indonesia 3.5 USA 2.8 Kazakhstan 2.7 Azerbaijan 2.5 Libya 2.5 Mexico 1.6 UK 1.6 Brazil 1.5 Gabon 1.4 Cameroon 1.1 Canada 1.0

4. Why Not Estimate Gas Flaring Volumes From Satellite Data? Open combustion produces a unique signature that should be detectable by satellite sensors. Systematic global observations of gas flaring from satellites could provide estimates free of corporate and national disclosure constraints.

5. The U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS) has a Unique capability to collect low-light imagery. Polar orbiting 3000 km swath 2.7 km ground sample distance (GSD) Two spectral bands: visible and thermal Nightly global coverage Flown since 1972 Will continue till ~2012 Visible Thermal

6. Pros and Cons of DMSP OLS sensor extremely sensitive to light emitted by gas flares. Global archive extending back to 1992. NGDC has standardized and largely automated annual product generation. Lighting detected from many other sources. No onboard calibration of visible band. Gas flares not detected in OLS thermal band data.

7. Total Number of Coverages

8. Total Number of Cloud-Free Coverages

9. Average Digital Number of Lights x Percent Frequency of Detection

10. Mollweide Projection – 1 km Equal Area Grid Average Digital Number of Lights x Percent Frequency of Detection

11. Nigeria F162004 = Red F141998 = Green F101992 = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares.

12. Russia F162004 = Red F141998 = Green F101992 = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares. Yellow vectors = Khanty Mansiysk.

13. Algeria F162004 = Red F141998 = Green F101992 = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares.

14. Indonesia F162004 = Red, F141998 = Green, F101992 = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares.

15. Malaysia F162004 = Red, F141998 = Green, F101992 = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares.

16. India F152003 = Red F141998 = Green F101992 = Blue

17. Vietnam F152003 = Red F141998 = Green F101992 = Blue

18. Beijing 1992 = blue 1998 = green 2003 = red

19. Nigeria Russia Excluding KM Khanty Mansiysk Iran Iraq Angola F15 = Blue F16 = Red F15 BCM = Sum of Lights/28543 R 2 =0.89 F16 BCM = Sum of Lights/33901 R 2 =0.87

20. Brunei

21. Myanmar - Offshore

22. China Onshore & Offshore

23. India - Offshore

24. Indonesia – Onshore & Offshore

25. Malaysia - Offshore

26. Philippines - Offshore

27. Papua New Guinea

28. Thailand - Offshore

29. Vietnam - Offshore

30. 2004 Gas Flaring Volumes (BCM) GGFRF15F16 Russia14.7?????? Nigeria24.125.825.8 Iran13.311.511.4 Iraq 8.6 9.0 8.7 Algeria 4.3 7.0 7.2 Kazakhstan 2.7 6.9 7.3 Angola 6.8 5.8 5.9 Saudi Arabia NA 5.2 5.0 Libya 2.5 4.9 5.0 UAE NA 3.7 3.7

31. Estimated 2004 Gas Flaring Volumes (BCM) GGFRF15F16 Indonesia 3.5 3.23 3.39 China NA 2.50 2.23 Malaysia NA 1.95 2.07 India NA 0.78 0.75 Vietnam NA 0.67 0.68 PNG NA 0.31 0.37 Thailand NA 0.24 0.21 Brunei NA 0.118 0.119 Philippines NA 0.064 0.045 Myanmar NA 0.036 0.024

32. Conclusions The satellite data estimate of global gas flaring volumes is 190-199 BCM in 2004. This is about 30% higher than the GGFR estimate of 150 BCM. Russia has the largest flaring – more than 30% of the global total. Indonesia, China, and Malaysia have the largest amount of flaring in south and east Asia. NGDC plans to extend the annual estimates back to 1992 using the DMSP archive.