Oil & gas · 17 Feb 2026

Methane plume detected in Saudi Arabia

On 17 Feb 2026, the Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 53,000 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

Evidence packet

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

53,000 kg/h

± 17,000 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 1,272 tonnes of methane.

Detected: 17 Feb 2026 · 10:48 UTC
Satellite: Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA
Sector: Oil & gas
Wind: Plume drifting towards the NE · 4.6 m/s
Coordinates: 22.11, 39.09
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID: 7d91ab60-c1dd-4a91-9aee-65c622650a41

Likely operator

Saudi Aramco Plausible

Saudi Aramco operates the kingdom's oil and gas production.

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 7d91ab60-c1dd-4a91-9aee-65c622650a41, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/7d91ab60-c1dd-4a91-9aee-65c622650a41), accessed 5 Oct 2026.