Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 22 May 2026

Methane plume detected in Iran

On 22 May 2026, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 637 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

637 kg/h
± 270 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 15.3 tonnes of methane.

Detected
22 May 2026 · 11:06 UTC
Satellite
EMIT - NASA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 4.4 m/s
Coordinates
31.30435, 49.12061
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
622b056e-d71b-4d10-85ee-614d27d102b5

Likely operator

National Iranian South Oil Company Plausible

NISOC, a NIOC subsidiary, operates the Khuzestan onshore fields (Ahvaz, Marun, Aghajari, Gachsaran).

Emitting site

IRN_S_170 · O&G source (generic)
2 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP notified the government about this plume.

Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.

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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 622b056e-d71b-4d10-85ee-614d27d102b5, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/622b056e-d71b-4d10-85ee-614d27d102b5), accessed 5 Oct 2026.