Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 25 Apr 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 25 Apr 2023, the Sentinel-2 - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 7,430 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

Satellite map of methane plume locations in Iraq
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7,430 kg/h
± 2,964 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 178 tonnes of methane.

Detected
25 Apr 2023 · 07:26 UTC
Satellite
Sentinel-2 - ESA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 5.3 m/s
Coordinates
30.27587, 47.74217
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
7d2be254-2ec6-4f3c-9ede-18c434fe91e7

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_045 · Flare
5 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 7d2be254-2ec6-4f3c-9ede-18c434fe91e7, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/7d2be254-2ec6-4f3c-9ede-18c434fe91e7), accessed 6 Oct 2026.