China Uses Satellite to Track Offshore Oil, Gas Platforms
Xinhua/APP
Beijing: Chinese researchers have pioneered a novel application of the Earth science satellite SDGSAT-1 to monitor offshore oil and gas platforms.
A study conducted by researchers at the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was recently published in the International Journal of Digital Earth.
As global oil demand rises and the industry moves towards decarbonization, precise monitoring of oil and gas platforms has become increasingly essential. However, tracking these platforms across vast and dynamic oceanic regions remains a challenge.
To address this, researchers utilized SDGSAT-1’s Glimmer Imager and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer to detect gas flaring activities in the South China Sea. This innovative approach allowed them to map platform operations with enhanced accuracy.
Their findings led to the identification of 113 offshore oil and gas platforms amid the complex maritime landscape of islands, vessels, and other offshore structures.
“These findings highlight SDGSAT-1’s capabilities in tracking the operational status of oil and gas platforms,” the study noted.
Launched on November 5, 2021, SDGSAT-1 is the world’s first Earth science satellite dedicated to supporting the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Developed by CAS, the satellite provides critical space-based data to assess human-environment interactions and promote sustainable development.