Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 15 Oct 2023

Methane plume detected in China

On 15 Oct 2023, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 1,727 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

1,727 kg/h
± 504 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 41.4 tonnes of methane.

Detected
15 Oct 2023 · 07:55 UTC
Satellite
EMIT - NASA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the W · 2.5 m/s
Coordinates
37.30224, 94.28925
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
58dc6773-53a9-4e44-93ce-bceea31ea6a3

Likely operator

PetroChina Plausible

PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.

Emitting site

CHN_S_013 · Well head
4 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 58dc6773-53a9-4e44-93ce-bceea31ea6a3, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/58dc6773-53a9-4e44-93ce-bceea31ea6a3), accessed 4 Oct 2026.