The origin of Turkmenistan's Darvaza Crater (click here) – nicknamed the "door to hell" – is disputed, but the theory most widely accepted involves a Soviet expedition to explore for gas.
A Turkmen geologist claims the borehole was set alight in 1971 after fears it was emitting poisonous gases. It has now been burning for 40 years....
The Saudis had a pipe or two that would not stop burning as well. They tried everything to cut off the methane. What finally did work was to dig a hole next to the open drill space and place a small nuclear charge to interrupt the geology that was allowing the chronic leaking of methane. It worked. That might actually be the only time a nuclear explosion made sense and was beneficial.
Would the Russians kindly entertain the idea of ending this nasty expulsion of a greenhouse gas? I realize this is not the biggest problem with emissions on the planet, but, it certainly is one of the more easier solutions we all have to face.
