Methane plume detected in China
On 18 May 2023, the Landsat - NASA/USGS satellite saw methane escaping at about 2,229 kg/h from an oil & gas site.
Evidence packet
If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 53.5 tonnes of methane.
- Detected
- 18 May 2023 · 04:20 UTC
- Satellite
- Landsat - NASA/USGS
- Sector
- Oil & gas
- Wind
- Plume drifting towards the SE · 4.3 m/s
- Coordinates
- 37.30093, 94.30705
Open in Google Maps (satellite) - UNEP plume ID
f170bb88-a47d-4903-af65-f4b3762ddaa3
Likely operator
PetroChina Plausible
PetroChina's Qinghai Oilfield operates the Qaidam basin.
Emitting site
CHN_S_025 · O&G facility (generic)
3 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 f170bb88-a47d-4903-af65-f4b3762ddaa3, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/f170bb88-a47d-4903-af65-f4b3762ddaa3), accessed 4 Oct 2026.