Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 1 Sep 2022

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 1 Sep 2022, the PRISMA - ASI satellite saw methane escaping at about 505 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

Satellite map of methane plume locations in Iraq
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505 kg/h
± 207 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 12.1 tonnes of methane.

Detected
1 Sep 2022 · 07:37 UTC
Satellite
PRISMA - ASI
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the NE · 2.6 m/s
Coordinates
30.23653, 47.45185
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
d6dc996c-9b4c-4c78-9c87-dab2e1771ffa

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_005 · Tank batteries
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 d6dc996c-9b4c-4c78-9c87-dab2e1771ffa, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/d6dc996c-9b4c-4c78-9c87-dab2e1771ffa), accessed 5 Oct 2026.