Methane plume detected in China
On 12 Mar 2023, the Sentinel-2 - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 1,854 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 44.5 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 12 Mar 2023 · 04:27 UTC
- Satellite
- Sentinel-2 - ESA
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the NW · 3.0 m/s
- Coordinates
- 37.30691, 94.29036
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
1be84d55-affe-46ec-a557-1505883f0a9d
Likely operator
PetroChina Plausible
PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.
Emitting site
CHN_S_048 · O&G facility (generic)
1 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 1be84d55-affe-46ec-a557-1505883f0a9d, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/1be84d55-affe-46ec-a557-1505883f0a9d), accessed 4 Oct 2026.