Turkmenistan Develops Plan to Halt Darvaza Crater Flames

Specialists from the Research Institute of Natural Gas under Turkmenistan’s state company Turkmengaz have developed a method to stop the uncontrolled burning of the Darvaza gas crater in the Central Karakums, which has been aflame since 1963.

The solution involves drilling a new well and redirecting gas flows. By targeting the most gas-rich layers at the Chaljulba field, experts were able to change the direction of gas filtration and significantly reduce the flow into the crater, The Caspian Post reports via Turkmen media.

The crater, officially named “The Glow of the Karakums,” is about 60 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep. It formed after an exploratory well collapsed in a gas-bearing structure. To prevent harm to people and animals, the escaping gas was ignited. Although initially expected to burn out within days, the flames have persisted for over six decades due to the complex geological structure of the Zeagli-Darvaza group of deposits, where multiple thin gas layers are hydraulically connected, enabling constant gas transfer.

Previous attempts to inspect the crater by Turkmengaz specialists were unsuccessful. Efforts to locate the well remnants and install control equipment failed because gas escapes from multiple points, making it impossible to regain control.

Currently, nine fields in the group are in industrial development, with gas extracted from 45 wells, and the institute has conducted over 40 years of research in the region.

According to the institute, implementing this scientifically grounded solution will eliminate uncontrolled gas emissions, reduce environmental impact, and ensure the rational use of Turkmenistan’s natural resources.