Following a spill of approximately 365 bbls (15 330 gal.) of light crude oil in Lawrence County (Missouri), Enbridge Inc. reportedly shutdown and isolated its 22 in. Ozark pipeline.
In an email, a spokesperson for Enbridge, Jennifer Smith, stated: “At approximately 10:18 am central time on 14 January, a leak detection alarm notified workers of a potential release on Line 51 (the Ozark pipeline) at the Lawrence pump station, in Lawrence County.”
The release from the Ozark pipeline, which transports oil from Cushing (Oklahoma) to Wood River (Illinois), was contained on Enbridge property. Some oil reached a drainage area, approximately 610 m from the station's fence, but this has also been contained.
According to The Daily Progress, a nearby highway is expected to be closed until later this week to allow the spill to be cleaned up. While expected to re-open on Thursday, the weather and/or the clean-up operation’s schedule could postpone this date.
While clean-up procedures have begun, according to Reuters, Enbridge does not have a specific timeline regarding when the pipeline will return to service.
An investigation to determine what caused the release has began.