Karaturun well blowout and methane release (Mangystau, 2023)
- Kayrros estimated that methane left me at 35 to 107 tonnes per hour in 2023. Interfax
- The Mangystau ecology department reported methane in my air at 480 times the established limit and oil products in my soil at 168.13 mg/kg; no norm was given for the soil figure. Bizmedia.kz
- Prosecutors said about 60,000 cubic metres of gas burned above me each day. BES.media
- Company or project Buzachi Neft: Satellite images likely showed hot vapour with minimal greenhouse gases; the burning mixture was mainly water with insignificant methane. Interfax
- Government and regulators Deputy Minister of Ecology: The gas was flared following safety protocols; it would not be accurate to say pure methane was released. Vlast.kz quotes him as saying there was “no release of methane into the atmosphere”. Interfax
- Researchers Kayrros and the satellite study: Kayrros estimated 35 to 107 tonnes of methane per hour; the study (preprint) estimated 128 ± 36 kt over 205 days. Guanter et al., EarthArXiv via UNESCO Open Science
- Researchers Preprint abstract (13 March 2024): 128 ± 36 kt over 205 days. Guanter et al., EarthArXiv via UNESCO Open Science
- Researchers Universitat Politècnica de València press release (July 2024): 131,000 tonnes (printed “131.00”). Universitat Politècnica de València
- Press and investigations Vlast.kz (July 2024): 134,000 tons over six and a half months, 4.5% of Kazakhstan's 2023 energy-sector emissions and at least 30% larger than Aliso Canyon (2015). Vlast.kz
A gas-water blowout at well No. 303 at the Karaturun field on 9 June 2023 ignited and burned for about 200 days. A study (preprint) estimated 128 ± 36 kt of methane released; Buzachi Neft paid environmental fines and was ordered by an Almaty court to pay KZT 2.27 billion for the burned gas.
KZT 2,269,347,033 plus KZT 68,080,411 state duty. The company argued for KZT 219 million at domestic gas prices.
Status As of March 2025: the September 2024 ruling stood without a reported appeal, and a first instalment of KZT 270 million was reported paid in January 2025.
- Kazakh state revenue — KZT 2.27 billion award for lost gas plus KZT 68.08 million state duty, payable in instalments; environmental damage assessment of KZT 361 million Lada.kz
- Buzachi Neft — Environmental damage assessment and fine of about KZT 361–362 million; the award of KZT 2.27 billion Lada.kz
- Air and soil at the Karaturun field — 128 ± 36 kt of methane over 205 days (study, preprint); methane 480 times the limit and oil products in soil at 168.13 mg/kg (ecology department) Guanter et al., EarthArXiv via UNESCO Open Science
What happened
On 9 June 2023 a gas-water mixture blew out while a drilling tool was being lifted at well No. 303 on the Karaturun field in the north-west of the Buzachi peninsula; the well ignited and a crater hindered firefighting (Interfax). The study authors and Interfax call the field Karaturun East; Kazakh press and the court call it Karaturun Yuzhny (South). The Mangystau ecology department said drilling began in May 2023 although permits allowed it no earlier than 2024, and that the fire lasted 200 days and was extinguished by 25 December 2023. The Universitat Politècnica de València described a 10-metre-high fire and a 15-metre-wide crater, with thousands of tonnes of water injected before the flow was stopped on 25 December 2023 with drilling mud.
A study (preprint) by Guanter and co-authors, posted on 13 March 2024 and later published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, estimated that 128 ± 36 kt of methane was released over 205 days, from 48 high-quality plume observations by satellites including TROPOMI, GHGSat, PRISMA, EnMAP and EMIT, plus Sentinel-2 and Landsat. The authors said total emissions exceeded those of all previously documented accidents of this kind. Kayrros estimated an emission rate of 35 to 107 tonnes per hour in 2023, and SRON placed the release in the “ultra-emitter” class above 25 tonnes per hour. Prosecutors said about 60,000 cubic metres of gas burned per day.
The Mangystau ecology department reported methane in the air at 480 times the established limit and oil products in soil at 168.13 mg/kg, with no norm given. After a control inspection it drew up four administrative protocols in February 2024 and gave a preliminary fine estimate of over KZT 350 million; the plaintiff in the later gas-loss case said the company had paid an environmental damage assessment of KZT 361 million together with an administrative fine. On 12 March 2024 Deputy Minister of Ecology Zhomart Aliyev said the penalties exceeded KZT 500 million.
On 12 April 2024 the Western Interregional Department of the State Inspectorate in the Oil and Gas Complex of the Ministry of Energy sued Buzachi Neft LLP over the burned gas. In September 2024 the Specialised Interdistrict Economic Court of Almaty granted the claim: KZT 2,269,347,033 for lost raw gas plus KZT 68,080,411 in state duty, payable to state revenue, citing articles 123(3) and 125(2) of the Code on Subsoil and Subsoil Use. The gas was valued at average exchange prices for the period, specifically Dutch gas hub quotes; the company put the value at KZT 219 million at domestic prices. BES.media reported that the award was payable in instalments and that a first instalment of KZT 270 million was paid in January 2025.
The company said satellite images likely showed hot vapour with minimal greenhouse gases and that the burning mixture was mainly water with insignificant methane. Deputy Minister Aliyev said the gas was flared following safety protocols and that it would not be accurate to say pure methane was released. Buzachi Neft periodically blamed its exploration drilling contractor, named in Vlast.kz as Zaman Energo.
- 2023Drilling begins (May); blowout and ignition at well No. 303 (9 Jun); first clear TROPOMI detection (21 Jun); gas flow stopped with drilling mud (25 Dec); prosecutor's representation on eliminating violations (27 Dec)
- 2024Four administrative protocols (Feb); preprint on the methane release (13 Mar); Ministry of Energy inspectorate files gas-loss claim (12 Apr); peer-reviewed study published (Jul); Almaty court grants the claim (Sep)
- 2025First instalment of KZT 270 million paid (Jan), as reported by BES.media
What was said
“There was an accident at the field”
“When the accident happened, the gas was flared following safety protocols”
“no release of methane into the atmosphere”
“the release of gas from the emergency well decreased significantly”
“We are ready to pay 219 million, even if we are not obliged, because of the stability regime”
“there is no universal solution to eliminate similar accidents”
“We have continued to observe methane leaks from this asset regularly”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Satellite images likely showed hot vapour with minimal greenhouse gases; the burning mixture was mainly water with insignificant methane.
InterfaxThe gas was flared following safety protocols; it would not be accurate to say pure methane was released. Vlast.kz quotes him as saying there was “no release of methane into the atmosphere”.
InterfaxKayrros estimated 35 to 107 tonnes of methane per hour; the study (preprint) estimated 128 ± 36 kt over 205 days.
Guanter et al., EarthArXiv via UNESCO Open Science128 ± 36 kt over 205 days.
Guanter et al., EarthArXiv via UNESCO Open Science131,000 tonnes (printed “131.00”).
Universitat Politècnica de València134,000 tons over six and a half months, 4.5% of Kazakhstan's 2023 energy-sector emissions and at least 30% larger than Aliso Canyon (2015).
Vlast.kzLost gas valued at average exchange prices for the period, specifically Dutch gas hub quotes: KZT 2.27 billion.
BES.mediaKZT 219 million at domestic prices; ready to pay it because of the contract stability regime.
BES.mediaGranted KZT 2,269,347,033 plus KZT 68,080,411 state duty.
Lada.kzPreliminary fine estimate of over KZT 350 million after four protocols.
Bizmedia.kzKZT 361 million environmental damage assessment paid with an administrative fine; KZT 362 million proposed by local inspectors.
BES.mediaPenalties exceed KZT 500 million (about US$1.1 million, per Interfax).
InterfaxDesign-institute opinions found a formation anomaly and no design violations; the company periodically blamed its exploration drilling contractor, named in Vlast.kz as Zaman Energo.
BES.mediaThe claim rests on articles 123(3) and 125(2) of the Code on Subsoil and Subsoil Use: production must be carried out by methods excluding hydrocarbon losses not provided for by the basic project document. The environmental fine covered the accident itself; the claim covers burned gas that could have supplied Mangystau residents.
BES.mediaHow it looked
Shown
- Satellite images likely showed hot vapour with minimal greenhouse gases; the burning mixture was mainly water with insignificant methane.Buzachi Neft, 2023, as reported by Interfax · Interfax
- No burning charge ignited the cloud, which would be impossible if methane were present in significant concentration.Buzachi Neft deputy general director, August 2023, as reported by Vlast.kz · Vlast.kz
- It would not be accurate to say that pure methane was released.Zhomart Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Ecology, 12 March 2024 · Interfax
Recorded
- Methane released: 128 ± 36 kt over 205 days, from 48 high-quality plume observations (study, preprint of 13 March 2024).
- Methane in air 480 times the established limit and oil products in soil at 168.13 mg/kg (Mangystau ecology department); methane concentrations on 9 June 2023 exceeded the permissible level of 2,540 mg/m3 (Mangystau ecology department, October 2023).
- Court award of KZT 2,269,347,033 plus KZT 68,080,411 state duty for lost raw gas (Specialised Interdistrict Economic Court of Almaty, September 2024).
- Environmental damage assessment of KZT 361 million paid together with an administrative fine (plaintiff's statement, August 2024); KZT 362 million fine proposed by local inspectors in February 2024 (Vlast.kz).
- The Tax Code sets a methane payment rate of 0.02 MRP per tonne from stationary sources (article 576 para 2, as amended by Law No. 402-VI of 2 January 2021); a halved rate of 0.01 MRP applied until 1 January 2025.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- Buzachi Neft (2023): Satellite images likely showed hot vapour with minimal greenhouse gases; the burning mixture was mainly water with insignificant methane. · Interfax
- Buzachi Neft (August 2024): In court it argued a 2001 contract stability clause, domestic gas prices (export banned) and design-institute opinions finding a formation anomaly and no design violations; it was ready to pay KZT 219 million. · BES.media
- Ministry of Ecology (September–October 2023): The Minister said he had “not heard” about the fire, and later that the ministry “periodically” monitors Karaturun. · Vlast.kz
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2024–2024Claimant wonKZT 2.27bn damages for lost raw gas, plus KZT 68.08m state dutyMinistry of Energy inspectorate v. Buzachi Neft (lost raw gas)Specialised Interdistrict Economic Court of Almaty · Civil · Western Interregional Department of the State Inspectorate in the Oil and Gas Complex, Ministry of Energy → Buzachi Neft LLP
Claim filed 12 April 2024 and granted in September 2024: KZT 2,269,347,033 for lost (burned) raw gas plus KZT 68,080,411 state duty, payable to state revenue, under articles 123(3) and 125(2) of the Code on Subsoil and Subsoil Use. The sources give no case number and mention no appeal; payment in instalments was reported from January 2025. Lada.kz
- 2024–2024Claimant wonKZT 361m environmental damage assessment, paid with an administrative fineMangystau Department of Ecology inspection of Buzachi NeftMangystau Region Department of Ecology (administrative protocols) · Administrative · Mangystau Region Department of Ecology → Buzachi Neft LLP
A control inspection ended in February 2024 with four administrative protocols and an order to prepare and implement a remediation plan; the preliminary fine estimate was over KZT 350 million. Bizmedia.kz
- 2023–Outcome not on recordSpecialised environmental prosecutor's representation to Buzachi NeftSpecialised environmental prosecutor's office · Regulatory · Specialised environmental prosecutor's office → Buzachi Neft LLP
A representation on eliminating violations was issued on 27 December 2023. Lada.kz
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Money
- None on record Remediation or restoration — The Mangystau ecology department ordered the company to prepare and implement a remediation plan (February 2024); no source gives remediation spending.
Court
- Unclear Specialised environmental prosecutor's representation to Buzachi Neft: outcome not on record.
Accounts
Record
- Not measured Not measured: a monetary figure for the climate effect of the methane; the court award values the burned gas at commodity prices and the fines relate to limit exceedances.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the total volume of gas burned; the court stated only the daily rate.
- None on record None on record: a court case behind the fines reported by Interfax in March 2024.
- None on record None on record: insurance cover or insurance payments.
Did the harm stop?
The gas flow was stopped on 25 December 2023 by injecting drilling mud, about 200 days after the blowout on 9 June 2023.
Who paid?
Buzachi Neft paid an environmental damage assessment and fine of about KZT 361–362 million and was ordered to pay KZT 2.27 billion for the burned gas to state revenue, in instalments from January 2025. The award is calculated on the value of the gas.
Sources
Government and regulators
- Law No. 402-VI of 2 January 2021 amending the Tax Code (via zakon.uchet.kz, in Russian)Republic of Kazakhstan (legal database reproduction) · 2021-01-02
Press and investigations
- A methane leak continues unbridled in western KazakhstanVlast.kz · 2023-10-19
- 350 million tenge fine imposed on Buzachi Neft for the field fire (in Russian)Bizmedia.kz · 2024-02-19
- Methane leak in Kazakhstan last year smashed all negative recordsVlast.kz · 2024-07-04
- Karaturun methane leak: Buzachi Neft ordered to pay 2.2 bn tenge (in Russian)BES.media · 2024-09-21
Researchers
- Multi-satellite data depicts record-breaking methane leak from a well blowout (preprint record)Guanter et al., EarthArXiv via UNESCO Open Science · 2024-03-13
- Nature Research Highlight (press release on the study)Universitat Politècnica de València · 2024-07-16
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