Turkmenistan’s 50-Year “Gateway to Hell” Fire May Finally Be Extinguished – Find Out How Methane Capture Could Change the Game

Cloud Banner Sunita Somvanshi

Turkmenistan has announced an ambitious plan to capture methane gas from the infamous "Gateway to Hell" crater in the Karakum Desert - a fiery pit that has become both an environmental hazard and unlikely tourist attraction.

[{"selector":"#anim-fe297c9b-7596-4627-a8fa-fefccd1470b8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1e27a1a-83ee-43f1-91d8-3c7c64c447eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b265c8e-fdf8-4311-a1df-ee9476964604","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5bc7e50-023e-48e8-b4eb-e1b22b3e19f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd11ef91-3856-4808-900f-fb5ca04ef0de","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4eec32e-92a7-423c-b9e2-cb8c22f09f65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Martha de Jong-Lantink (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The Soviet-era incident in 1971 created one of the world's longest-burning fires, transforming a drilling mishap into a half-century environmental challenge that continues to affect global climate.

[{"selector":"#anim-ad99de7d-1ea5-4408-8afd-45ec1ad24f78","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-852bfcdc-e085-42ab-b1ef-72f80b4321ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d00c6c8-30c6-4600-99b9-8d71c64f72e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(88.34951%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a6d6e4d2-221e-42c4-83fa-4c4c16146488","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c83b609-b04a-4b09-bfab-c33ef60c83b0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85c576c0-1855-4733-9564-0b2c9f43c25c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Evan Bench (CC BY 2.0)

The Darvaza crater originated when Soviet geologists were drilling for natural gas deposits, leading to a catastrophic ground collapse that created an enormous void in the Karakum Desert.

[{"selector":"#anim-9e27f642-a749-4336-b760-7937f53fa0b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-101f05ef-7e62-475c-91d6-a17c6d07f46d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5662f37c-0c0c-40bc-9c3f-d973c54d1249","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-88.34951%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8380200-d03f-4e50-840d-75b44019540c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db74043c-043a-451c-a3c9-1d0a0d633c86","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c06a6f1c-5053-43f3-a8da-77107fac5330","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Deviant Art

What began as a routine gas exploration turned disastrous when drilling equipment punctured a natural gas pocket, creating a 20-meter-deep crater that threatened nearby communities with toxic fumes.

[{"selector":"#anim-75ba1e31-6ed9-458c-ab5d-a7307ce6fdee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e9e0757-b502-4edf-a4cf-ad2880b6b34c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75bef314-702f-4e16-8536-4665fa84fc38","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(88.34951%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5693136-d46d-4a6b-8be7-13a72b308c0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c2d87e1-a7c0-4582-b204-40ebcd5875ca","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9999d693-d615-4681-8ef2-15d802ba469b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Peter Coughlan (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Soviet scientists made a fateful decision to ignite the gas-spewing crater, expecting the flames to exhaust the fuel source within weeks - instead, they created a perpetual inferno that's burned for over 50 years.

[{"selector":"#anim-a8519aba-de20-4d5e-93a5-6105e4eb0ab1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ac2c444-322a-4e89-875f-ce5f00e15351","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acbcce25-3869-4bfb-a553-3dc11f110214","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-88.34951%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aaf9f5c3-6d58-4a2c-ac95-8888a1018ef1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-861c4218-cd3d-4e70-8fc1-131aae752154","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-523f4b65-e8e9-4d7e-b1a9-79b06e1164de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Deviant Art

The endless supply of methane gas from deep underground has kept the Darvaza crater ablaze for five decades, prompting Turkmengas chairman Maksat Babayev to announce active drilling operations for gas capture.

[{"selector":"#anim-0bbf69eb-e222-4142-b28c-80ec36e16da4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-966d8809-dc47-412d-8922-1b1f774e8691","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49925ba6-cdba-462b-b282-9df2b0c14891","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(88.34951%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3430afa-67d2-49fe-8a22-3c1e2153bf5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35f6404f-d178-4829-ad98-f13ec2ffd4ff","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a2a2ca5-9894-4da0-8b01-adbec9e2bada","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Benjamin Goetzinger

As a primary component of natural gas, methane's role in global warming has become increasingly concerning, with its potent greenhouse effects driving climate change at an accelerated rate.

[{"selector":"#anim-b5feaa9f-879f-4d52-8225-b21103cafcdf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15b79f13-00d8-425e-9ad5-ea83c84d17c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99d898b7-5d94-4f28-9a27-b4fae58794b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-88.34951%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5da1af2-a975-4dbc-810e-15e9b443cbb7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-627204e6-cd68-45c0-9f02-c3d51cd8683f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52f377a6-aa3d-42c9-9868-6a295bf2ad73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Mehdi Bouchtout

According to environmental data, methane's warming impact on the atmosphere is 28 to 36 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a century, making it a critical target for climate action.

[{"selector":"#anim-4a7e0a6a-879a-4f02-b33d-35c856f478cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2486f65-6f06-4fc8-8016-48435c858533","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbb933a5-e71c-4c93-aa50-2acdf3aaab37","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(88.34951%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9eee6219-08e9-4021-9fd9-472d0723ba70","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a84bd17-b93c-4831-a640-573e4115e0b7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71575258-49d4-4543-a7c7-cd8cf5c9991f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Lance Arthur (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-a05588cf-4471-4bd4-b811-92cb2180570e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1331423-bc39-4587-b67b-ce71ce9932b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5edbbab0-85ce-44fd-8c4c-f0affe48a759","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-88.34951%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7554835-e428-4fc3-8f06-4ff4ba56dea7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18c3ebfd-b4eb-4969-907d-2828f8053a93","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00fe235e-58e2-4519-b9fc-795e39ab82a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The International Energy Agency (IEA) identifies Turkmenistan as one of the world's leading methane emitters, with aging infrastructure and poor maintenance contributing significantly to the problem - now the country aims to reduce its environmental footprint through innovative gas capture technology. Photo Source: Alun Carr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-954adf9f-1eb9-4b74-9501-d52e3800f25c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-139b5ee9-ad5c-4c97-b99a-af0bb015d0b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6ac3197-cb6d-4d87-9a92-c0208ba48f64","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 210.51158%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more