Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 23 Mar 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 23 Mar 2023, the PRISMA - ASI satellite saw methane escaping at about 3,140 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

3,140 kg/h
± 1,091 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 75.4 tonnes of methane.

Detected
23 Mar 2023 · 07:37 UTC
Satellite
PRISMA - ASI
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 2.8 m/s
Coordinates
30.1677, 47.41635
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
6c045b41-63dc-4651-9efb-2a80be198361

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_022 · Flare
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 6c045b41-63dc-4651-9efb-2a80be198361, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/6c045b41-63dc-4651-9efb-2a80be198361), accessed 6 Oct 2026.