Methane degassing within Ukraine according to satellite data

Abstract The article substantiates the concept of degassing the Earth using the example of methane, a gas component of the fluid regime of the lithosphere. According to the analysis of observations from the Sentinel-5P satellite over the territory of Ukraine for the period 2019-2022, data on the distribution of methane (CH4 ) in the atmosphere were obtained using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, and a corresponding map was compiled. The distribution of methane content within the main tectonic structures of Ukraine is very complex and is probably not related to the specifics of their development. It has been established that methane is present everywhere in the atmosphere of Ukraine but in different amounts. The relationship between the content of methane in the atmosphere and the content of hydrocarbons within 12 known oil and gas-bearing areas of the Dnieper-Donets Depression (DDD) was established. Two aggregates are distinguished: areas with the largest reserves of hydrocarbons and oil and gas-bearing areas with low reserves of hydrocarbons, which are characterized by a significant range of changes in the content of methane in the atmosphere. This indicates the connection of methane content in the atmosphere with hydrocarbon reserves in oil and gas-bearing areas. That is, the process of degassing is taking place and it can be studied according to the remote sensing (RS) data.