The three biggest ‘methane bombs’ are in North America

Top 10 expected methane leakages from fossil fuel extraction sites, bn tonnes CO2 equivalent

medium estimate

min

max

0

10

20

30

40

Marcellus Shale US

Haynesville/Bossier Shale US

Montney Play Canada

Bovanenkovo Zone Russia

Yolotan South Turkmenistan

North Field* Qatar

Tunguska Basin CBM* Russia

Gazprom Yamburg Russia

Permian Delaware Tight US

Utica Shale US

medium estimate (17bn tonnes CO2)

min

max

Marcellus Shale US

Haynesville/Bossier Shale US

Montney Play Canada

Bovanenkovo Zone Russia

Yolotan South Turkmenistan

North Field* Qatar

Tunguska Basin CBM* Russia

Gazprom Yamburg Russia

Permian Delaware Tight US

Utica Shale US

0

10

20

30

40

Guardian graphic. Source: Kjell Kühne, Lingo. Note: All sites are gas and oil fields except for Tunguska Basin coal-bed methane field. Expected leakage is calculated for the duration of the full exploitation of the field. *Sites not yet in production