Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 25 Jul 2023

Methane plume detected in Iraq

On 25 Jul 2023, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 9,340 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

9,340 kg/h
± 3,499 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 224 tonnes of methane.

Detected
25 Jul 2023 · 11:39 UTC
Satellite
EMIT - NASA
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the E · 5.4 m/s
Coordinates
30.27307, 47.7438
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
fbffd35c-4763-4db6-ab89-989d20c299ca

Likely operator

Basra Oil Company Plausible

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

Emitting site

IRQ_S_009 · Flare
38 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 fbffd35c-4763-4db6-ab89-989d20c299ca, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/fbffd35c-4763-4db6-ab89-989d20c299ca), accessed 5 Oct 2026.