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Monday, April 11th, 2016

Oil Leak From Keystone Pipeline 89 Times Worse Than Originally Thought

Author:     Alejandro Davila Fragoso
Source:     Think Progress
Publication Date:     Apr 8, 2016 12:36 pm
 Link: Oil Leak From Keystone Pipeline 89 Times Worse Than Originally Thought
Stephan:   A few days ago, the day it was discovered, I saw this story in the Canadian press. The spill was so small it didn't really seem of any significance. But of course, as with so much of the Keystone Pipeline, the initial story is not the real story. Of course it is much worse. But that's not why I am running this. Corporate demand for reduced regulation is producing more incidents. Aging infrastructure is augmenting this. It is also giving impetus to an already quickening trend, conversion to non-carbon energy. I think we are seeing one of history's great ironies play out.
Keystone pipeline pump station Credit: AP/Nati Harnik

Keystone pipeline pump station
Credit: AP/Nati Harnik

Nearly a week after pipeline operator TransCanada shut down a section of its Keystone line over an oil leak, the company reported Thursday thousands of gallons of oil were spilled, not less than 200 as it first said.

Based on soil excavations, TransCanada said about 16,800 gallons of oil leaked onto a field in South Dakota, the Associated Press reported. After the leak was discovered Saturday and the line was shut, TransCanada said about 187 gallons of crude oil had spilled, an accident that environmental groups said shows the dangers of shipping oil by pipeline. Though the spill is larger than first thought, it poses no significant environmental effects or threats to public safety, the AP said. However, Keystone transports Canadian tar sands oil, which is more difficult to clean than conventional oil.

The company behind the rejected Keystone XL line has yet to reveal what caused the leak, but it said the spill is being controlled, and reported […]

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