Methane plume detected in China
On 18 Apr 2026, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 1,863 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 44.7 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 18 Apr 2026 · 05:20 UTC
- Satellite
- EMIT - NASA
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the SE · 2.5 m/s
- Coordinates
- 37.36825, 94.12241
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
3f644dcb-7b5a-4093-9f45-b785834fcc91
Likely operator
PetroChina Plausible
PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.
Emitting site
CHN_S_869 · Well head
2 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 →Authorities you can notify
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 CHN_S_869
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 3f644dcb-7b5a-4093-9f45-b785834fcc91, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/3f644dcb-7b5a-4093-9f45-b785834fcc91), accessed 5 Oct 2026.