Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 30 Jan 2026

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 30 Jan 2026, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 2,400 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

2,400 kg/h
± 588 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 57.6 tonnes of methane.

Detected
30 Jan 2026 · 07:31 UTC
Satellite
EMIT - NASA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the E · 1.7 m/s
Coordinates
30.17425, 47.40862
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
09bd72b5-6b75-43a5-a11b-0ad7735d29f9

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

State-owned Basra Oil Company oversees the southern fields, several run with international contractors.

Emitting site

IRQ_S_077 · Flare
1 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 09bd72b5-6b75-43a5-a11b-0ad7735d29f9, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/09bd72b5-6b75-43a5-a11b-0ad7735d29f9), accessed 5 Oct 2026.