Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 17 May 2021

Methane plume detected in Algeria

On 17 May 2021, the Sentinel-2 - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 6,151 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

Satellite map of methane plume locations in Algeria
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6,151 kg/h
± 2,499 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 148 tonnes of methane.

Detected
17 May 2021 · 09:50 UTC
Satellite
Sentinel-2 - ESA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the NW · 5.8 m/s
Coordinates
27.74369, 9.91773
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
ecac4be0-46da-4b53-bd02-5a59cf63ba91

Likely operator

Sonatrach Plausible

State company Sonatrach operates or co-operates nearly all Algerian fields and pipelines.

Emitting site

DZA_S_005 · Flare
28 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 ecac4be0-46da-4b53-bd02-5a59cf63ba91, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/ecac4be0-46da-4b53-bd02-5a59cf63ba91), accessed 4 Oct 2026.