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 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

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

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

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.

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

Pros and Cons of DMSP OLS sensor extremely sensitive to light emitted by gas flares. Global archive extending back to 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.

Total Number of Coverages

Total Number of Cloud-Free Coverages

Average Digital Number of Lights x Percent Frequency of Detection

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

Nigeria F = Red F = Green F = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares.

Russia F = Red F = Green F = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares. Yellow vectors = Khanty Mansiysk.

Algeria F = Red F = Green F = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares.

Indonesia F = Red, F = Green, F = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares.

Malaysia F = Red, F = Green, F = Blue Vectors drawn on gas flares.

India F = Red F = Green F = Blue

Vietnam F = Red F = Green F = Blue

Beijing 1992 = blue 1998 = green 2003 = red

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

Brunei

Myanmar - Offshore

China Onshore & Offshore

India - Offshore

Indonesia – Onshore & Offshore

Malaysia - Offshore

Philippines - Offshore

Papua New Guinea

Thailand - Offshore

Vietnam - Offshore

2004 Gas Flaring Volumes (BCM) GGFRF15F16 Russia14.7?????? Nigeria Iran Iraq Algeria Kazakhstan Angola Saudi Arabia NA Libya UAE NA

Estimated 2004 Gas Flaring Volumes (BCM) GGFRF15F16 Indonesia China NA Malaysia NA India NA Vietnam NA PNG NA Thailand NA Brunei NA Philippines NA Myanmar NA

Conclusions The satellite data estimate of global gas flaring volumes is BCM in 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.