Canadian Natural Resources pipeline leaks near Slave Lake
70,000 litres of oil and processed water leaked, but CNR says it has cleaned up
A pipeline owned by Canadian Natural Resources Limited has spilled 70,000 litres of oil and processed water northwest of Slave Lake, Alta.
The Alberta Energy Regulator says the breach happened on Monday and was reported by CNRL the same day.
The regulator says the spill is not an emergency, the oil is not near any people, water or wildlife, and a cleanup is underway.
Low amounts of hydrogen sulphide gas were also detected.
Greenpeace Canada says CNRL has had almost twice as many pipeline incidents as other companies in Alberta.
Calgary-based CNRL said most of the spill — 68,250 litres — is processed water and all the oil has been recovered.
"Full fluid recovery is almost complete," Zoe Addington, public affairs adviser for CNRL, said Wednesday in an email to The Canadian Press.
"The leak was a result of an onsite, above ground pipe failure and leaked for less than three hours."
The company is investigating.