Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 19 Mar 2026

Methane plume detected in Turkmenistan

On 19 Mar 2026, the Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 17,000 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

17,000 kg/h
± 15,000 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 408 tonnes of methane.

Detected
19 Mar 2026 · 09:49 UTC
Satellite
Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SW · 1.3 m/s
Coordinates
38.48, 54.32
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
84873b54-c576-43ba-9ac0-a2195edb538d

Likely operator

Turkmennebit Plausible

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

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 84873b54-c576-43ba-9ac0-a2195edb538d, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/84873b54-c576-43ba-9ac0-a2195edb538d), accessed 4 Oct 2026.