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Darvaza gas crater

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Door to Hell
Panorama of the gas site burning, 2011
CountryTurkmenistan
RegionDerweze, Ahal Province
Field history
Discovery1971

The Door to Hell is a natural gas field in Derweze (also spelled Darvaza, meaning "gate"), Ahal Province, Turkmenistan. The Door to Hell is noted for its natural gas fire which has been burning continuously since it was lit by Soviet petrochemical scientists in 1971, fed by the rich natural gas deposits in the area. The pungent smell of burning sulfur pervades the area for some distance.

Geography

The field is situated near the Derweze village. It is in the middle of the Karakum Desert, about 260 kilometres (160 mi) north from Ashgabat. The gas reserve found here is one of the largest in the world. The name, "Door to Hell", was given to the field by the locals, referring to the fire, boiling mud and orange flames in Derweze's large crater with a diameter of 70 metres (230 ft).[1] The hot spots range over an area with a width of 60 metres (200 ft) and to a depth of about 20 metres (66 ft).[2]

History

The site was identified by Soviet scientists in 1971.[3] It was thought to be a substantial oil field site.[4] The scientists set up a drilling rig and camp nearby, and started drilling operations to assess the quantity of gas reserve available at the site. As the Soviets were pleased with the success of finding the gas resources, they started storing the gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig and camp collapsed into a wide crater and disappeared. No lives were lost in the incident. However, large quantities of methane gas were released, creating an environmental problem and posing a potential danger to the people of the nearby villages.[citation needed]

Fearing the release of further poisonous gases from the cavern, the scientists decided to burn it off.[1] They thought that it would be safer to burn it than to extract it from underground through expensive methods. Environmentally, gas firing is the next best solution when the circumstances are such that it cannot be extracted for use. At that time, expectations were that the gas would burn out within days, but it is still burning, more than four decades after it was set on fire.[1]

Effects on future development of gas

The deposit as seen at night, 2010.

In April 2010, the president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, visited the site and ordered that the hole should be closed, or measures be taken to limit its influence on the development of other natural gas fields in the area.[3] Turkmenistan plans to increase its production of natural gas, intending to increase its export of gas to China, India, Iran, Russia, and Western Europe from its present level to 75 million cubic metres in the next 20 years.[2] As of 2013, the hole is still burning. It has now become an international tourist destination.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "What a 'hell hole'!". Pakistan Daily Times. September 14, 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b Marat Gurt (20 April 2010). "Turkmen president wants to close "Hell's Gate"". Reuters. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b "The Door to Hell: Take a look inside a giant hole in the desert which has been on fire for more than 40 YEARS". Daily Mail. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ American Geological Institute (January 2010). Earth. American Geological Institute. p. 22. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  5. ^ http://www.mbandf.com/parallel-world/the-door-to-hell-over-40-years-old-and-still-burning-brightly

Media related to Door to Hell at Wikimedia Commons