Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 21 Sep 2023

Methane plume detected in Turkmenistan

On 21 Sep 2023, the Landsat - NASA/USGS satellite saw methane escaping at about 1,866 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

1,866 kg/h
± 672 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 44.8 tonnes of methane.

Detected
21 Sep 2023 · 07:01 UTC
Satellite
Landsat - NASA/USGS
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SW · 3.0 m/s
Coordinates
37.92849, 53.91615
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
5b40e990-004e-4b9a-aea6-a940c08aae95

Likely operator

Turkmennebit Plausible

State concern Türkmennebit operates the Balkan-province oil fields (Goturdepe, Barsa-gelmez, Nebitdag, Körpeje, Gamyşlyja, Çeleken).

Emitting site

TKM_S_025 · Flare
49 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP has not recorded a notification for this plume.

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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 5b40e990-004e-4b9a-aea6-a940c08aae95, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/5b40e990-004e-4b9a-aea6-a940c08aae95), accessed 5 Oct 2026.