A practical solution has been developed to eliminate the famous "Darvoza" gas crater, which has been burning continuously in Central Karakum for more than half a century. This was reported by specialists of the Natural Gas Research Institute under the state concern "Turkmengaz." According to the news, the problem is planned to be solved by drilling a new well and redirecting gas flows.
It is reported that specialists, having deeply analyzed the geological structure and hydrodynamic state of the area, put forward a proposal to drill a special operational evaluation well at the Chaljulba field. This approach allows for intensive extraction of gas from the most powerful reservoirs in gas fields. As a result, it is expected that the natural filtration flows of gas will change, and the main part will be extracted not towards the crater, but through new wells. This can significantly reduce the volume of gas burning in the crater.
The burning crater is located approximately 260 kilometers north of Ashgabat, near the village of Darvoza. It was formed in 1963 (according to some sources, in 1971) as a result of a geological accident during the exploration of a gas field. During drilling, the well encountered a large cavity, causing the upper layers of the ground and the drilling equipment to collapse. Natural gas began to leak through the huge opening.
The gas was deliberately burned at that time to prevent poisoning of people and animals. According to the plan, the gas was supposed to run out in a few days. However, due to the multi-layered nature of the deposit, the burning has not stopped and continues to this day. The diameter of the crater is about 60 meters, and the depth is about 20 meters. In official sources, it is known as "Qoraqum shu'lasi," and among the people as "Do'zax darvozasi," and over the years it has become a landmark that attracts tourists.
The leadership of Turkmenistan has repeatedly paid attention to this issue. In particular, in 2010, the then president of the country, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, emphasized that the crater's burning should not interfere with the development of nearby gas reserves and ordered its extinguishing. In 2022, this requirement was repeated. The head of state openly stated that the unnecessary combustion of underground gas has a negative impact on the environmental situation and public health, as well as the waste of a valuable resource that could be exported.
The newly developed scientific solution is aimed at eliminating these problems, and if it proves effective in practice, the decades-long uncontrolled burning of the "Gate" crater may finally stop. This is expected to be an important step, both ecologically and economically.
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