Methane plume detected in China
On 4 Apr 2025, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 917 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 22.0 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 4 Apr 2025 · 04:12 UTC
- Satellite
- EMIT - NASA
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the NW · 1.5 m/s
- Coordinates
- 37.31138, 94.26422
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
9bdf62f5-0e68-4963-a8a6-cb710cb94c5a
Likely operator
PetroChina Plausible
PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.
Emitting site
CHN_S_296 · Transmission Compressor Station
1 plumes detected at this site
Status
UNEP notified the government about this plume.
Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.
Push for action
Find the operator's contact details and send a ready-made, evidence-based email in about two minutes.
Write to the operator →Authorities you can notify
Is this attribution wrong?
If you operate this site, or know who does, tell us. Operators get a right of reply, and corrections are reviewed within a week.
Get alerts for CHN_S_296
We'll email you when UNEP publishes new plumes here. No account needed. Unsubscribe in one click.
We only use your email to send these alerts.
Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 9bdf62f5-0e68-4963-a8a6-cb710cb94c5a, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/9bdf62f5-0e68-4963-a8a6-cb710cb94c5a), accessed 5 Oct 2026.