Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 4 hrs ago
Satellite detects repeated methane plumes over Chevron’s Gorgon plant
A satellite detected repeated methane plumes over Chevron’s Gorgon plant on Barrow Island off Western Australia’s Pilbara coast.
Five satellite passes since November last year recorded emissions, with the latest, in August, estimated at about 7.8 tonnes of methane an hour.
The United Nations warned Chevron after the detections, which were described as exceeding the US EPA’s threshold for a “super emitter” event.
Methane is responsible for about a quarter of global warming, according to the UN, and is much more harmful than carbon dioxide.
Chevron said it was working with the UN Environment Programme and wanted more clarity on the satellite data, but has not confirmed the cause or whether emissions stopped.
Western Australia’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is investigating what regulatory measures may be needed, while the responsibility for oversight remains unclear.
Satellite monitoring detected repeated methane plumes over Chevron’s Gorgon gas plant in Western Australia.
The Tanager-1 satellite recorded emissions on five consecutive passes since November 2025.
The most recent detection, in late August 2026, indicated an average emission rate of about 7.8 tonnes of methane an hour.
The detections prompted a United Nations warning to Chevron, which said it was working with the UN Environment Programme and seeking clarity on the data.
Western Australia’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation said it was investigating the reports.
- Who
- Chevron and the United Nations Environment Programme are responding to satellite detections at the Gorgon plant.
- What
- Repeated methane plumes were detected over the plant. The latest recorded an average emission rate of about 7.8 tonnes an hour.
- When
- Five consecutive satellite passes detected plumes since November 2025; the latest was in late August 2026.
- Where
- The Gorgon liquefied natural gas plant on Barrow Island, off Western Australia’s Pilbara coast.
- Why
- The source of the emissions is not confirmed. A climate researcher said the pattern was consistent with an operational issue.
Chevron
United Nations Environment Programme
Data reliability
Chevron
Chevron said satellite monitoring involved a wide range of uncertainty and said it was seeking further clarity on the data.
United Nations Environment Programme
The UNEP issued a warning based on the satellite detections; it said it had not received formal feedback from Chevron or the Australian government.
Response
Chevron
Chevron said it was engaging with the UNEP to address the alert.
United Nations Environment Programme
The UNEP said it would update its publicly available data when it received feedback.
Chevron was notified about methane emissions at Gorgon.
Tanager-1 detected plumes over the plant on five consecutive passes.
The latest detection recorded an average emission rate of about 7.8 tonnes of methane an hour.
- Latest average emission rate
- About 7.8 tonnes of methane an hour
- Satellite
- Tanager-1
- Number of consecutive passes
- Five
- Plant location
- Barrow Island, off Western Australia’s Pilbara coast
- State investigation
- Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is investigating the reports
What people are saying
a wide range of uncertainty
We are engaging with the UNEP, and we are seeking further clarity on their data
What I would hope is that our levels of government are communicating with each other and checking where the responsibility is
What we're seeing here is a wasting of gas that they've gone to great lengths to extract in the first place