Signs of progress in the heart of a global methane hotspot

The Darvaza Crater, nicknamed the Gates of Hell, for years was promoted as a tourist attraction in the central Asia country of Turkmenistan. — Bloomberg

NEW YORK: Roughly half a century ago, geologists exploring for hydrocarbons accidentally shattered the roof of a huge underground gas deposit opening a crater 60m wide.

Rather than let the potent methane fumes leak uncontrollably, engineers eventually lit the gas on fire, presumably on the theory that it would quickly burn off. It didn’t and the site is believed to have burned continuously ever since.