Pipeline in northern Alberta spills 70K litres of oil, processed water
by The Canadian Press
Canadian Natural Resources said it is investigating incident northwest of Slave Lake, Alta.
SLAVE LAKE, Alta.—A pipeline owned by Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. has spilled 70,000 litres of oil and processed water northwest of Slave Lake, Alta.
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) says the breach happened March 31 and was reported by Canadian Natural the same day.
The regulator says the spill is not an emergency.
The oil is not near any people, water or wildlife, and a cleanup is underway.
Low amounts of hydrogen sulphide gas were also detected.
Greenpeace Canada says Canadian Natural has had almost twice as many pipeline incidents as other companies in Alberta.
The Calgary-based firm said most of the spill—68,250 litres—is processed water and all the oil has been recovered.
“Full fluid recovery is almost complete,” Zoe Addington, public affairs adviser for Canadian Natural, said in an email to The Canadian Press.
“The leak was a result of an onsite, above ground pipe failure and leaked for less than three hours.”
The company is investigating.
