News Climate

Satellites have located the world’s methane ‘ultra-emitters’

Most are in six major oil- and gas-producing countries, including Russia and the United States

methane fire

Gas flaring (shown), in which oil and gas producers intentionally release methane, is a large source of the greenhouse gas to the atmosphere.

Rex_Wholster/iStock/Getty Images Plus

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

A small number of “ultra-emitters” of methane from oil and gas production contribute as much as 12 percent of methane emissions from oil and gas production every year to the atmosphere every year — and now scientists know where many of these leaks are.