Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 17 Jul 2026

Methane plume detected in Turkmenistan

On 17 Jul 2026, the Sentinel-2 - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 6,967 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

6,967 kg/h
± 2,789 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 167 tonnes of methane.

Detected
17 Jul 2026 · 07:06 UTC
Satellite
Sentinel-2 - ESA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the NE · 5.4 m/s
Coordinates
39.35829, 53.76317
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
7b990caa-8b6b-4953-801b-da3228a5950a

Likely operator

Turkmennebit Plausible

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

Emitting site

TKM_S_503 · Transmission Pipelines
7 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP notified the government about this plume.

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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 7b990caa-8b6b-4953-801b-da3228a5950a, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/7b990caa-8b6b-4953-801b-da3228a5950a), accessed 5 Oct 2026.