In August, three satellites recorded images of a large methane leak at the Ku-Maloob-Zaap offshore oil field cluster in the Gulf of Mexico, belonging to Mexico's Pemex.
"In December, the flaring shut down, and they were venting gas almost constantly for 17 days. This time, however, they have been venting and flaring gas intermittently during the whole month."
- Irakulis-Loitxate, Scientist from Polytechnic University of Valencia
The discovery was part of a wider study funded by the European Space Agency, where scientists are attempting to identify and measure human-made emissions from space.
An estimate of 44,064 tons of methane were released into the atmosphere from the Zaap oil field, equivalent to 3.7 million tons of CO2.
Under Mexico's hydrocarbon law, releasing natural gas into the atmosphere or venting, is illegal. It is only permitted when done for security reasons.
Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a bigger contributor to global warming in the short-term, because it stores more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
