|
Return To Main Page
By
Associated Press
Extreme cold hampers North Dakota oil production; 60 spills reported in past week
Fox News Flash top headlines for January 18Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.Bitter cold weather is causing a rash of spills in the oil fields of North Dakota as well as a slowdown in production, regulators say. North Dakota has seen multiple days of frigid weather with windchills at times reaching as low as minus 70 degrees in its Bakken oil fields. Regulators say that strains workers and equipment, which can result in mishaps that lead to spills. More than 60 spills and other gas or oil environmental problems have been reported in the last week, according to the state's spill dashboard. NATURAL GAS PIPELINE LEAK REPORTED IN ALASKA'S FAR NORTH "This is probably the worst little stretch that I’ve seen since I took over the spill program" a decade ago, North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Spill Investigation Program Manager Bill Suess told the Bismarck Tribune. Public health is not at risk due to the remoteness of the spills, Suess said. The spills most commonly have involved crude oil and produced water — wastewater that is a byproduct of oil and gas production, containing oil, drilling chemicals and salts. Produced water spills can cause long-term damage to impacted land. Some companies are already engaged in cleanup despite the extreme cold, while others wait for the weather to warm. Suess said that given the extreme circumstances, the agency is giving companies some breathing room, but still expects the work to begin soon.
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy. |
