New Satellite Aims to Independently Monitor Oil and Gas Methane Emissions
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A new satellite called MethaneSAT, launched by SpaceX, is designed to detect emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from oil and gas operations.
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MethaneSAT will provide free, public data on methane emissions, allowing independent monitoring of the oil and gas industry.
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The goal is to understand precisely where methane leaks are occurring, so emissions can be reduced.
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The oil and gas industry has historically kept emission data private, so this satellite will enable more transparency.
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By detecting "super-emitter" events of large methane releases, the data can be used by regulators to require fixes of leaks.