Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 3 Dec 2021

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 3 Dec 2021, the PRISMA - ASI satellite saw methane escaping at about 16,644 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

16,644 kg/h
± 7,087 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 399 tonnes of methane.

Detected
3 Dec 2021 · 07:44 UTC
Satellite
PRISMA - ASI
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 7.3 m/s
Coordinates
30.27587, 47.74217
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
1671a5de-0aa2-4660-bbd2-d89c3871a8d1

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_045 · Flare
5 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 1671a5de-0aa2-4660-bbd2-d89c3871a8d1, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/1671a5de-0aa2-4660-bbd2-d89c3871a8d1), accessed 5 Oct 2026.