TOKYO, Oct.1 -- Researchers in Japan have reported on observational evidence of methane emissions from offshore oil and gas platforms in Southeast Asia, according to the latest online edition of Scientific Reports.

"Here, we report on observational evidence of CH4 (chemical formula of methane) emissions from offshore oil and gas platforms in Southeast Asia, detected by a highly time-resolved spectroscopic monitoring technique deployed onboard cargo ships of opportunity," said researchers led by Hideki Nara with the Center for Global Environmental Research under the National Institute for Environmental Studies.

Methane is a substantial contributor to climate change. It also contributes to maintaining the background levels of tropospheric ozone. Among a variety of methane sources, current estimates suggest that methane emissions from oil and gas processes account for approximately 20 percent of worldwide anthropogenic emissions.

To establish strategies for the mitigation of global warming, a quantitative understanding of the global methane budget is required, said the researchers. "We often encountered CH4 plumes originating from operational flaring/venting and fugitive emissions off the coast of the Malay Peninsula and Borneo," they said. "Using night-light imagery from satellites, we discovered more offshore platforms in this region than are accounted for in the emission inventory."

Based on the results, they concluded that "current knowledge regarding CH4 emissions from offshore platforms in Southeast Asia has considerable uncertainty and therefore, emission inventories used for modeling and assessment need to be re-examined."