Methane plume detected in China
On 20 Feb 2023, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 2,163 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 51.9 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 20 Feb 2023 · 05:45 UTC
- Satellite
- EMIT - NASA
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the SE · 2.3 m/s
- Coordinates
- 37.36849, 94.13667
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
a00131aa-fb06-4b6b-96f4-406f2fbea4c6
Likely operator
PetroChina Plausible
PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.
Emitting site
CHN_S_037 · Gas disposal facility
2 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 a00131aa-fb06-4b6b-96f4-406f2fbea4c6, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/a00131aa-fb06-4b6b-96f4-406f2fbea4c6), accessed 6 Oct 2026.