Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 24, A 2025 analysis by UCLA’s Stop Methane Project, using satellite data from the non-profit Carbon Mapper, identified more than 3,100 methane plumes from oil and natural gas facilities across dozens of countries in all world regions and income levels.

Among the 25 sites with the highest observed hourly methane emission rates, 17 are located in Turkmenistan. The two largest emitters are situated in Esenguly District, Balkan Province, on the Caspian Sea coast, with recorded rates equivalent to approximately 10 million tons and 9.6 million tons of methane per hour respectively. Three additional facilities in the same district also ranked within the global top ten. Further significant sources were identified near Balkanabat in the same province.

Venezuela and Iran each host more than one location in the top 25 list.

Researchers noted that the ranking includes only sources detected on at least two separate satellite overpasses to ensure reliability. Certain facilities showing exceptionally high single observations were therefore excluded from the published list.

The study highlights the contribution of large individual emission points to overall methane releases from the oil and gas sector. Methane is recognised as a potent greenhouse gas that plays a substantial role in near-term global temperature increase.

Carbon Mapper continues systematic global monitoring to provide detailed emission data that can support targeted reduction measures at specific infrastructure locations worldwide. The findings underscore the value of high-resolution satellite observation in identifying and quantifying major point sources across different regions.