In a groundbreaking development for the energy sector, researchers have unveiled a novel method to map global gas flaring with unprecedented precision, offering a game-changer for environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance. The study, led by Mikhail Zhizhin of the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines, introduces a sophisticated approach to cataloging natural gas flaring sites from 2012 to 2025 using data from the Suomi NPP, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21 satellites.
Gas flaring, the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction, is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and a target for reduction efforts worldwide. The new method leverages the VIIRS Nightfire (VNF) nighttime infrared detections to resolve closely spaced industrial combustion sources, providing a stable and physically meaningful flare catalog. This advancement is crucial for long-term monitoring and emissions analysis, offering stakeholders a clearer picture of flaring activities.
“The method combines adaptive spatial aggregation of high-temperature detections with a hierarchical clustering that super-resolves individual flare stacks within oil and gas fields,” explains Zhizhin. This innovative approach allows for the separation of closely spaced sources, yielding physically consistent flare footprints and attraction regions. The catalog is then categorized into operational categories such as upstream, midstream, and LNG (liquefied natural gas) using a combination of prior catalogs and AI-assisted expert interpretation.
One of the most compelling aspects of this research is its use of a multimodal large language model (LLM) to provide contextual classification suggestions. The LLM analyzes geospatial information, high-resolution daytime imagery, and detection time-series summaries, while domain experts validate the final attribution. This fusion of artificial intelligence and human expertise ensures the accuracy and reliability of the catalog.
Compared to annual flare catalogs commonly used for national flaring estimates, the new catalog demonstrates substantially improved performance. It is more selective in the presence of intense atmospheric glow from large flares, identifies approximately twice as many active flares, and localizes individual stacks with ~50 m precision, resolving emitters separated by ~400–700 m. For the well-defined class of downstream flares at LNG export facilities, the catalog achieves complete detectability.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. Accurate flare inventories and facility-level attribution enable more precise emissions assessments, supporting better decision-making and policy formulation. “This research supports more accurate flare inventories, facility-level attribution, and policy-relevant assessments of gas flaring activity,” Zhizhin notes. The improved cataloging method can help energy companies optimize their operations, reduce emissions, and comply with regulatory requirements more effectively.
The study, published in the journal ‘Remote Sensing’ (translated from Russian as ‘Distant Sensing’), marks a significant step forward in the field of environmental monitoring. As the energy sector continues to grapple with the challenges of reducing emissions and improving sustainability, this research provides a powerful tool for tracking and managing gas flaring activities. The method’s ability to resolve closely spaced sources and achieve high precision in localization sets a new standard for flare cataloging, paving the way for more accurate and actionable data.
In the broader context, this research highlights the potential of combining advanced satellite technology with AI and expert interpretation to address complex environmental challenges. As the world moves towards a more sustainable energy future, such innovations will be crucial in monitoring and mitigating the impacts of industrial activities. The work of Zhizhin and his team not only advances our understanding of gas flaring but also demonstrates the transformative power of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling global environmental issues.