Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 25 Aug 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 25 Aug 2023, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 13,114 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

13,114 kg/h
± 6,658 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 315 tonnes of methane.

Detected
25 Aug 2023 · 07:50 UTC
Satellite
EMIT - NASA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 12.0 m/s
Coordinates
30.21316, 47.81701
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
3be1b1f8-bd34-4136-9573-2efa1031a45b

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_047 · Gathering and boosting facilities
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 3be1b1f8-bd34-4136-9573-2efa1031a45b, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/3be1b1f8-bd34-4136-9573-2efa1031a45b), accessed 5 Oct 2026.