Suncor pipeline spill north of Fort McMurray under investigation

The Alberta Energy Regulator is investigating a pipeline spill early Friday morning at a Suncor oilsands facility north of Fort McMurray.

Suncor spokesperson Erin Rees said the company's leak detection system sent out a notification about 3 a.m. Friday about a pipeline at the oilsands base camp.

Rees said the company shut down the pipeline as soon as it could, and temporarily closed a bridge.

Energy regulator spokesperson Jordan Fitzgerald said the spill involved diluent, a petroleum product used to dilute crude bitumen for easier pipeline transport. 

Suncor told the AER that 20 cubic metres of diluent — equivalent to 20,000 litres — leaked from the pipeline, Fitzgerald said. The site is about 26 km north of Fort McMurray.

"Suncor activated its emergency response plan and has shut in and isolated the pipeline," said Fitzgerald. "The release has been contained to Suncor's lease site and cleanup is underway.

"The release caused an unknown amount of diluent to spray on grass, leaves and brush located on Suncor's lease site."

Safest form of transport

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley addressed the spill at a news conference in Whitehorse, where she was attending a premiers' conference.

She said the spill doesn't change the fact that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil. 

"The key is to ensure that we incorporate the safest mechanisms possible, the highest standards in terms of pipeline safety and pipeline monitoring, as well as the highest standard in terms of cleanup," said Notley. 

"The fact of the matter is, if the spill had occurred on rail there might well have been injuries. In everything that you do there are risks, but I would suggest overall the risks are low."

AER officials are at the site monitoring the cleanup. 

No evacuations or injuries occurred as a result of the spill. The cause is unknown.