Global annual CO2 emissions from gas flaring
| Object type | Damage Signal |
|---|---|
| SIGNAL Earth ID | DS-00688 |
| Observable type | CO2 emissions mass flux (generic) |
| Unit | PgC/year (tCO2/year) |
| Temporal structure | Annual |
| Monitoring backbone | — |
Global annual CO2 emissions from gas flaring represent the total mass of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere each year as a result of the combustion of associated natural gas during oil extraction and processing. Gas flaring is a common practice in the oil and gas industry where excess natural gas is burned off rather than captured or utilized. This process contributes to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and has implications for climate change and air quality.
The significance of quantifying CO2 emissions from gas flaring lies in its contribution to the global carbon budget and its role in energy sector emissions inventories. Understanding these emissions helps inform assessments of fossil fuel impacts and supports international efforts to monitor and mitigate climate change.
This phenomenon is observed on a global scale, encompassing all regions where oil extraction and associated gas flaring occur. The annual temporal resolution reflects the integration of emissions data over one-year periods, facilitating consistent comparison and trend analysis.
Geographic / System Context
[edit]Gas flaring occurs primarily in oil-producing regions worldwide, including parts of the Middle East, Africa, Russia, North America, and South America. The geographic scope of global annual CO2 emissions from gas flaring encompasses all terrestrial and offshore oil extraction sites where flaring is practiced. These locations vary widely in terms of flaring intensity, regulatory frameworks, and technological infrastructure. The global distribution of flaring activities reflects patterns of hydrocarbon resource extraction and associated industrial operations.
Monitoring and Measurement
[edit]Monitoring of CO2 emissions from gas flaring relies on a combination of satellite remote sensing, ground-based measurements, and industry-reported data. Satellite instruments can detect thermal anomalies and gas flare locations, enabling estimation of flare volumes and combustion efficiency. Ground-based monitoring may include direct gas sampling and flow measurements at flare sites. Emission factors and modeling approaches are applied to convert flare gas volumes to CO2 mass emissions. Institutions involved in compiling and analyzing these data include international scientific organizations and national environmental agencies. The Global Carbon Budget project synthesizes such data to provide comprehensive annual emission estimates.
Within the SIGNAL system, this phenomenon is treated as a defined environmental signal whose boundaries and measurement conventions are described below.
Signal Definition
[edit]The signal represents the total annual mass flux of carbon dioxide emitted globally from gas flaring activities, expressed in tonnes of CO2 per year (tCO2/year). It quantifies the CO2 released by the combustion of associated natural gas that is flared during oil extraction and processing operations worldwide.
Boundary Conditions
[edit]Boundary inclusions encompass all CO2 emissions resulting directly from the combustion of flare gas associated with oil production, regardless of flare size or location. This includes routine flaring and emergency flaring events. Boundary exclusions comprise CO2 emissions from other sources such as venting, non-flaring combustion processes, and unrelated industrial activities. Emissions from natural gas combustion for energy generation or other uses are not included unless they are part of flare operations.
Aggregation Semantics
[edit]Geographically, the signal aggregates emissions across all global oil and gas flaring sites, integrating data from diverse regions and operational contexts. Temporally, the signal is aggregated on an annual basis, summing emissions over each calendar year to enable trend assessment and interannual comparison. Cross-signal aggregation involves integrating this signal with other related emissions data, such as total fossil fuel CO2 emissions and methane emissions from oil and gas operations, to provide a comprehensive view of sectoral greenhouse gas outputs.
Observational Status
[edit]Current monitoring of global CO2 emissions from gas flaring is supported by satellite observations and national reporting, though uncertainties remain due to variable flare efficiencies and reporting inconsistencies. Data are periodically compiled and updated in global carbon budget assessments. Future SIGNAL releases may incorporate improved spatial resolution, enhanced flare detection algorithms, and integration with complementary datasets to refine emission estimates and support more detailed analysis of trends and mitigation potential.
Related Signals
[edit]- CO2 emissions mass flux (generic)
- Crude oil extraction rate
- Natural gas extraction rate
Key Associated People
[edit]- Pierre Friedlingstein — Steward-candidate (University of Exeter) [Lead author]