Methane plume detected in China
On 22 Jul 2026, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 788 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 18.9 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 22 Jul 2026 · 08:32 UTC
- Satellite
- EMIT - NASA
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the SW · 3.8 m/s
- Coordinates
- 37.31092, 94.29233
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
6ecc7ad3-b92b-48b3-8b23-517974456616
Likely operator
PetroChina Plausible
PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.
Emitting site
CHN_S_047 · O&G facility (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 6ecc7ad3-b92b-48b3-8b23-517974456616, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/6ecc7ad3-b92b-48b3-8b23-517974456616), accessed 5 Oct 2026.