Monitoring of the Mordyyakha gas explosion object development on Yamal on the basis of Earth remote sensing data

The authors carried out a comprehensive study of the Mordyakh object C15 of a catastrophic gas blowout in 2017 using the Earth remote sensing (RS) data from space, including ArcticDEM digital 3D models. According to the remote sensing data, the researchers proved the rapid growth of the perennial heaving mound (PHM) C15 of about 1 m in height during 14.5 months from March 19, 2012 to June 6, 2013 and that in the next four years its growth rate was about 10 cm per year. They determined that in the period from June 8 to June 19, 2017, an explosion occurred in the arch of the PHM with the formation of a crater. As a result of photogrammetric processing of aerial images from a helicopter, the authors developed a highly detailed 3D model of the crater as of August 26, 2020. They recorded the scattering of frozen soil pieces up to a distance of 90 m, and calculated the approximate volume of the largest of them, which was about 40—50 m3. As a result of the research the authors confirmed the endogenous gas-dynamic mechanism of PHM growth followed by powerful blowout and gas explosions with the formation of giant craters. The results contribute to improving the safety of the operation of oil and gas facilities in the Arctic.