Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 13 Sep 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 13 Sep 2023, the PRISMA - ASI satellite saw methane escaping at about 781 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

781 kg/h
± 261 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 18.7 tonnes of methane.

Detected
13 Sep 2023 · 07:37 UTC
Satellite
PRISMA - ASI
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the S · 2.0 m/s
Coordinates
30.28123, 47.34998
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
30c99a67-52d3-4283-a7f5-0c99eaf65e19

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_037 · Flare
3 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP notified the government about this plume.

Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.

Push for action

Find the operator's contact details and send a ready-made, evidence-based email in about two minutes.

Write to the operator →
Is this attribution wrong?

If you operate this site, or know who does, tell us. Operators get a right of reply, and corrections are reviewed within a week.

Get alerts for IRQ_S_037

We'll email you when UNEP publishes new plumes here. No account needed. Unsubscribe in one click.

We only use your email to send these alerts.

Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 30c99a67-52d3-4283-a7f5-0c99eaf65e19, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/30c99a67-52d3-4283-a7f5-0c99eaf65e19), accessed 5 Oct 2026.