Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 19 Jul 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 19 Jul 2023, the Sentinel-2 - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 3,690 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

Satellite map of methane plume locations in Iraq
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3,690 kg/h
± 1,487 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 88.6 tonnes of methane.

Detected
19 Jul 2023 · 07:26 UTC
Satellite
Sentinel-2 - ESA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 5.5 m/s
Coordinates
30.27348, 47.74556
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
59ffecc7-b2fe-476a-bf34-a1909c172deb

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_034 · O&G facility (generic)
3 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 59ffecc7-b2fe-476a-bf34-a1909c172deb, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/59ffecc7-b2fe-476a-bf34-a1909c172deb), accessed 5 Oct 2026.