Spatial inventory of selected atmospheric emissions from oil industry in Ecuadorian Amazon: Insights from comparisons among satellite and institutional datasets

Abstract

Emissions were estimated for gas flaring, associated black carbon (BC) and greenhouse gases (i.e., CO 2 and CH 4 ). To assess the quality of publicly available data, the calculated emissions were compared with satellite observations and historical energy statistics from the United Nations (UN). Results indicate total gas flared for this period of 7.6 Gm 3 , corresponding to 782 Mm 3 yr −1 , and equivalent to a 3.7-4.5 kt yr −1 of BC. These values were in agreement with the UN estimates, suggesting that publicly available data are of acceptable quality. In contrast, the results from energy censuses diverged from satellite observation data, which might be explained by a poor calibration of satellite sensors. Study results enabled emissions mapping at a higher spatial scale than previous studies. Black carbon presented the highest results with 29.4-148.0 kg m −2 yr −1 in the cities of Shushufindi and Joya de Los Sachas. Greenhouse gases were up to twenty-fold higher than previous estimates. Publicly disclosed data estimates were discussed in terms of their potential on evaluations for climate, local health and economic impacts, to raise environmental monitoring and accountability in governmental institutions.

Extreme citizens science for climate justice: linking pixel to people for mapping gas flaring in Amazon rainforest

“…For example, communities were able to identify sites with gas venting activities, a phenomenon completely unreported in existing datasets, as well as in previous literature on oil activities in the EAR, despite venting activities having more significant environmental, social, and health impacts than gas flaring, (Ismail and Umukoro 2012, Durango-Cordero et al 2019, Velázquez-Gómez and Lacorte 2020.…”

“…For some studies, data validation is only performed for data reported from oil companies (Faruolo et al 2018, Durango-Cordero et al 2019.…”

Unburnable and Unleakable Carbon in Western Amazon: Using VIIRS Nightfire Data to Map Gas Flaring and Policy Compliance in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve

“…In the area, gas flaring has been a widely diffused practice for several decades ( Figure 2) [86], especially in the Amazonian provinces of Sucumbíos and Orellana, where spatial distribution and volumes of flared gas have not yet been deeply investigated. The only estimates of this phenomenon were made from Durango-Cordero et al but are not adequate for the assessment of the current situation, as the dataset is updated to 2012 [87]. We took into account all gas flaring sites in the EAR, including also mid-stream sites [87], which are classified by Eldvidge et al 2012 as downstream flare stacks [88].…”

“…The only estimates of this phenomenon were made from Durango-Cordero et al but are not adequate for the assessment of the current situation, as the dataset is updated to 2012 [87]. We took into account all gas flaring sites in the EAR, including also mid-stream sites [87], which are classified by Eldvidge et al 2012 as downstream flare stacks [88]. A typical gas flaring related to oil production in the EAR is represented in Figure 2 (Auca oil field).…”

“…Among them, one was classified from the data providers as a downstream site, with a total of 155 MCM of flared gas. According to previous works on gas flaring in the Amazonian context, we considered this site (the Shushufindi production plant, Orellana) as a mid-stream site and included it in the dataset [87]. Moreover, each year, sites without any activity detected in the previous year were considered as new activated gas flaring sites.…”