Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 24 Jul 2026

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 24 Jul 2026, the Planet Tanager satellite saw methane escaping at about 206 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

206 kg/h
± 68 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 4.9 tonnes of methane.

Detected
24 Jul 2026 · 09:05 UTC
Satellite
Planet Tanager
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 5.2 m/s
Coordinates
30.37251, 47.63399
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
a01bad3c-d473-410b-bcf1-712a10f0ca9d

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

State-owned Basra Oil Company oversees the southern fields, several run with international contractors.

Emitting site

IRQ_S_088 · Flare
1 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 a01bad3c-d473-410b-bcf1-712a10f0ca9d, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/a01bad3c-d473-410b-bcf1-712a10f0ca9d), accessed 5 Oct 2026.