Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 9 Jul 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 9 Jul 2023, the Sentinel-2 - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 9,819 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

9,819 kg/h
± 4,035 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 236 tonnes of methane.

Detected
9 Jul 2023 · 07:26 UTC
Satellite
Sentinel-2 - ESA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 6.2 m/s
Coordinates
30.27307, 47.7438
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
75071ac5-c9aa-470e-b9eb-0d6b13439eaf

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_009 · Flare
35 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 75071ac5-c9aa-470e-b9eb-0d6b13439eaf, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/75071ac5-c9aa-470e-b9eb-0d6b13439eaf), accessed 5 Oct 2026.