Methane plume detected in China
On 23 Dec 2025, the EnMAP - DLR satellite saw methane escaping at about 495 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 11.9 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 23 Dec 2025 · 05:13 UTC
- Satellite
- EnMAP - DLR
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the E · 2.0 m/s
- Coordinates
- 37.35737, 94.1476
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
97466968-b16c-4b06-91b5-11ac876d68c5
Likely operator
PetroChina Plausible
PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.
Emitting site
CHN_S_708 · Pipeline
2 plumes detected at this site
Status
UNEP notified the government about this plume.
Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.
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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 97466968-b16c-4b06-91b5-11ac876d68c5, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/97466968-b16c-4b06-91b5-11ac876d68c5), accessed 6 Oct 2026.