Scientists found massive #methane leak at the Ku-Maloob-Zaap oil field cluster that state oil company @Pemex operates in the Gulf of Mexico oil field 🧵reuters.com/business/envir… 
Led by @itziraloi, the scientists calculated about 4,000 tons of methane were released during just 17 days in December. @Pemex emitted a quantity of methane equivalent to 3.37 million tons of carbon dioxide or 3% of the country's annual CO2 emissions.
The leak is likely a result of "abnormal process conditions at the site" like malfunctions or equipment, they said. To minimize its harmful impact, oil and gas companies aim to flare the methane component of natural gas when comes to the surface as a byproduct of oil production.
Flaring has increased dramatically in Mexico. Some context here: graphics.reuters.com/MEXICO-PEMEX/F…
"If more flares have malfunctions, massive venting episodes like this could potentially also happen more frequently," said Daniel Zavala from the @EnvDefenseFund, who worked on the study.
The whole paper and some fascinating graphics, published by the @esa today, can be found here; esa.int/Applications/O…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
