Methane plume detected in Iraq
On 8 Oct 2023, the Landsat - NASA/USGS satellite saw methane escaping at about 1,540 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 37.0 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 8 Oct 2023 · 07:45 UTC
- Satellite
- Landsat - NASA/USGS
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the SE · 1.2 m/s
- Coordinates
- 36.30834, 43.08983
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
a1533ab4-db21-48e0-941f-75914421f3cc
Likely operator
North Oil Company Plausible
State-owned North Oil Company operates the Kirkuk-area fields.
Emitting site
IRQ_S_040 · Flare
14 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 a1533ab4-db21-48e0-941f-75914421f3cc, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/a1533ab4-db21-48e0-941f-75914421f3cc), accessed 5 Oct 2026.