Cleanup underway after 126-barrel oil spill in southern Alberta
Line is back up and running, and investigation is underway
The Canada Energy Regulator says it has been notified and will be monitoring the situation after an oil spill in southern Alberta on Friday.
The CER said the crude oil release happened at a pump station on the Enbridge Express Pipeline, approximately 270 kilometres northeast of Calgary, near Youngstown.
Initial reports show that 20,000 litres of oil (or about 126 barrels) were released on company property, and an estimated 75 litres (or half a barrel) leaked onto a nearby farmer's field. No livestock were present at the time, the CER said in a release.
The total volume of the spill remains under investigation.
Cleanup is underway.
The line was initially shut down, but resumed operations on Friday evening after it was deemed safe to do so, Enbridge said in a statement.
"There are no immediate safety concerns and we are cooperating fully with regulators in our response," Enbridge said.
No bodies of water or wildlife were reported to have been impacted, and the Calgary-based company said that all of the standing oil off site has been recovered.
The CER said it has deployed an inspection officer to monitor the company's response.
"The CER's top priority is protecting people and the environment. Enbridge will be held accountable to ensure the site is cleaned up and that their response meets with the CER's strict safety and environmental standards," the CER said.
The Express Pipeline, which began operating in 1997, ships up to 280,000 barrels per day from Hardisty to Casper, Wyoming.