Workers conducting clean up operations on site have yet to determine the volume of liquid spilled in boggy muskeg 20 kilometres southeast of Rainbow Lake, but well operator Pace Oil and Gas said it covered about half a kilometre in length.
The Energy Resources Conservation Board was told of the spill on Saturday, and is investigating how long the pipe, flowing to a disposal well, had been leaking brackish water and oil.
“We are working with the company to determine the scope of the incident,” said spokesman Darin Barter. “It is big enough to be a significant spill.”
The fluid, commonly called emulsion, was a byproduct of natural gas production and was being injected into a disposal well, said Colin Merrick, vice-president of operations, Wednesday.
“We haven’t determined if the leak has gone off-lease or not,” Merrick said. “We know that the leak covers an area of approximately 500 metres by 200 metres wide.”
The area is covered with pockets of standing water and is only accessible during the winter months by ice road, he said.
The spill was discovered during a routine fly-over by another company with operations in the area, Merrick said.
Original Article
Source: calgary herald
Author: Dina O'Meara
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