Google, in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), is joining an initiative to tackle climate-warming emissions being released by oil and gas operations.
Through utilising the capabilities of a new satellite, MethaneSAT, the partnership will monitor methane emissions globally and pinpoint significant sources of this potent greenhouse gas.
Scheduled for launch next month, MethaneSAT represents a collaborative effort that includes EDF, the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard University, and others.
Data will then be collected by the eco-warrior satellite, before being processed using Google Cloud's computing capabilities.
In addition, Google plans to use artificial intelligence to create a detailed map of oil and gas infrastructures.
This map will be integrated with MethaneSAT's emissions data to identify the most leak-prone equipment types within the oil and gas sector.
The resulting information will be made available on the Google Earth Engine platform, a geospatial analysis tool free for use for researchers, media and non-profits.
"We think this information is incredibly valuable for energy companies, researchers and the public sector to anticipate and mitigate methane emissions in components that are generally most susceptible," said Yael Maguire, Google’s vice president of geo sustainability.
It aligns with global pledges from over 50 oil and gas majors to reduce methane emissions by minimising leaks to nearly zero by the end of this decade.