Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 10 Oct 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 10 Oct 2023, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 7,749 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

7,749 kg/h
± 3,886 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 186 tonnes of methane.

Detected
10 Oct 2023 · 05:18 UTC
Satellite
EMIT - NASA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 3.4 m/s
Coordinates
30.27769, 47.36447
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
10c947cc-2ea8-44f5-8e54-29f0d5f388ab

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_035 · Flare
3 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP has not recorded a notification for this plume.

Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.

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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 10c947cc-2ea8-44f5-8e54-29f0d5f388ab, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/10c947cc-2ea8-44f5-8e54-29f0d5f388ab), accessed 5 Oct 2026.