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1) New tourist attraction.

2) From an environmental standpoint, isn't CO2 in the atmosphere better than methane?

Lighting it would be admitting defeat. I suspect pride is a factor here.

If we are going to be cynical about it, let's really be cynical and figure that they can best limit their losses by using a recovery well. If it was cheaper and feasible to light it, I think they'd do that over keeping pride.

It could start a fire in the nearby brush. With a little wind it could spread rapidly to thousands of nearby dwellings.

Exactly. I used to live near there, and the area is extremely dry and prone to wildfires, for example https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter_Ranch_fire

Unlikely. This is leaking from a storage reservoir, not a field. Eventually the gas runs out.

> Eventually the gas runs out.

Well... careful with estimates on that. From the Door to Hell article:

> It was estimated that the gas would burn out within a few weeks, but it has instead continued to burn for more than four decades.

In this case its an actual reservoir, reasonable to assume they know exactly how much case is in there.

I thought you had to dig through a vein of adamantine for that?