Lethal Leaks

ON THE TRACK OF ESCAPING METHANE

Every year over 80 million tons of methane escapes into the atmosphere from the oil and gas industry. The extremely hazardous greenhouse gas is the main component of natural gas. Using special cameras, satellite images and data analytics, scientists are on a quest for those responsible. Step by step they reveal badly maintained installations, indifference and profit avarice in the extraction of oil and gas. This is persistently denied, though, by many companies. At the same time, the technology for preventing methane leaking out of extraction plants and pipelines has long been available.

TEAM

Written and directed by Daniel Münter // Camera: Sven Kiesche, Stefan Thissen  // Sound: Max Bartusch, Ole Schmidt, Stephan Golz // Editor: Marc Schubert // Colour correction: Dany Schelby // Sound mix: Matthias Sänger // Narrator: Susanne Grawe // Graphics: Christian Bumba // Production manager: Marta Herrmann // Line manager: Katja Sträter // Producer: Meike Hemschemeier // Executive producers: Sarah Zierul, Thomas Weidenbach // Commissioning editors: Bianca Charamsa and Katharina Finger (ZDF) // Produced by Längengrad Filmproduktion for ZDF