Feasibility of Detecting Low-Level Methane Emissions from Abandoned Oil Wells Using a Multi-Band, Multi-Pass Satellite Approach

¹ Department of Environmental Science, Rakuno Gakuen University, 069-8501, Ebetsu, Japan
² Graduate School of International Resource Sciences, Akita University, Japan
³ Center for Transdisciplinary Education and Research, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

In this study, we develop a multi-band, multi-path (MBMP) model using shortwave infrared (SWIR) data to quantify point-source methane emissions from abandoned oil wells. Atmospheric methane concentrations reached about 1,942 ppb in 2025, more than doubling since pre-industrial times. As the second most important greenhouse gas after CO₂, methane emissions from both natural and fossil fuel–related sources contribute significantly to climate change. The greenhouse effect of atmospheric methane (CH₄) is approximately 25–28 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Even small emissions from abandoned oil wells, if left unmanaged, can contribute to long-term global warming. In Japan, we found that backfilling (plugging) old wells is highly effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The abandoned oil wells represent a minor but ongoing source of methane, emitting approximately 200 m³/day. Even assuming a cost of 50 million JPY per well, the cost to reduce one ton of CO₂ is approximately 3,500 JPY (25 USD). This is a lower cost compared to other greenhouse gas reduction methods. Based on the field measurements and model estimates, methane emissions were estimated at 7,300 t-CO2e per year. This represents a significant proportion compared to the total emissions of 47,400 t-CO₂ reported in Akita Prefecture for the 2019 fiscal year. This study presents a comprehensive satellite-based methodology for monitoring methane leakage from abandoned oil wells using time-series observations from the ESA Sentinel-2 satellite and develops a MBMP model based on these observations. The study aims to conduct the first quantitative evaluation of small amount of methane emissions from abandoned oil wells in Japan by integrating high-resolution satellite data with in situ field survey measurements obtained at the former Kurokawa oil field in Akita Prefecture.