Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 23 Dec 2025

Methane plume detected in China

On 23 Dec 2025, the EnMAP - DLR satellite saw methane escaping at about 3,096 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

3,096 kg/h
± 1,040 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 74.3 tonnes of methane.

Detected
23 Dec 2025 · 05:13 UTC
Satellite
EnMAP - DLR
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 2.6 m/s
Coordinates
37.29717, 94.30869
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
da8d955e-2ef9-4439-84da-720b9ce63b37

Likely operator

PetroChina Plausible

PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.

Emitting site

CHN_S_705 · Gas disposal facility
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 da8d955e-2ef9-4439-84da-720b9ce63b37, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/da8d955e-2ef9-4439-84da-720b9ce63b37), accessed 4 Oct 2026.