Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 27 Dec 2024

Methane plume detected in China

On 27 Dec 2024, the PRISMA - ASI satellite saw methane escaping at about 750 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

Satellite map of methane plume locations in China
Map imagery © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap © MaxarOpen the interactive map →

750 kg/h
± 158 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 18.0 tonnes of methane.

Detected
27 Dec 2024 · 04:41 UTC
Satellite
PRISMA - ASI
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the NW · 0.8 m/s
Coordinates
37.30674, 94.29432
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
051e219b-e6ea-4933-8113-4df551e02157

Likely operator

PetroChina Plausible

PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.

Emitting site

CHN_S_003 · Well head
3 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP notified the government about this plume.

Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.

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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 051e219b-e6ea-4933-8113-4df551e02157, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/051e219b-e6ea-4933-8113-4df551e02157), accessed 4 Oct 2026.