Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 25 Aug 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 25 Aug 2023, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 1,311 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

1,311 kg/h
± 626 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 31.5 tonnes of methane.

Detected
25 Aug 2023 · 07:49 UTC
Satellite
EMIT - NASA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 10.0 m/s
Coordinates
30.17358, 47.40927
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
eb6b667f-d5b9-48c8-9ce4-8f2f55001a13

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_053 · Flare
1 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 eb6b667f-d5b9-48c8-9ce4-8f2f55001a13, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/eb6b667f-d5b9-48c8-9ce4-8f2f55001a13), accessed 6 Oct 2026.