An oil spill that was discovered by a local landowner in Belfield (North Dakota) is now believed to have been approximately three times larger than originally estimated.
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"Belle Fourche spill three times larger than expected"
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The Belle Fourche pipeline (North Dakota) is reported to have spilt approximately 12 615 bbls of oil (around 530 000 gallons), according to a spokesperson of the pipeline’s owner – True Companies. The company’s early estimate, released just after the leak in December 2016, was 4200 bbls.
According to Reuters, this news makes the Belle Fourche spill of December 2016 “the largest crude leak to affect water in the state in over a decade.”
The True Companies spokesperson claimed that over 80% of the cleanup operation is complete, with the company collecting approximately 3900 bbls of oil from the Ash Coulee Creek via skimming and vacuuming thus far.
While the leak is reported to have occurred due to ground movement, monitoring equipment on the pipeline failed to detect the leak. This spill has prompted US pipeline regulators to order True Companies to improve its leak detection and other actions. No decision has been made with regards to any fines against the company.
The 6 in. Belle Fourche line remains closed as repairs continue. However, it has capacity to move 24 000 bpd.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/equipment-and-safety/27032017/belle-fourche-spill-three-times-larger-than-expected/
