News
Oil and saltwater spills take place near Maxbass
Scott Wagar
12/10/2013
Two environmental incidents took place in Bottineau County’s oilfield in recent days where numerous barrels of oil and saltwater contaminated the ground within the county.
According to the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, its Oil and Gas Division was notified on Dec. 2 that a valve leak occurred at a water injection well four miles west of Maxbass at the Fossum B3 site.
The Oil Field Environmental Incident Summary (OFEIS) on the North Dakota Department of Health’s website, stated that 50 barrels of oil and 300 barrels of saltwater were released, but was contained to the well site. Denbury OnShore, LLC is the operator of the Fossum B3 site.
A water injection well is utilized to increase oil production. Water is placed in a reservoir to increase pressure, which retrieves additional oil that normally is not obtainable.
The Oil and Gas Division has sent an inspector to investigate the spill.
On the same day of the Fossum B3 site, Denbury OnShore, LLC also reported another spill at the Erickson 1RH site when an oil pipe leaked near the Fossum site.
The OFEIS stated that five barrels of oil were spilled at the location, but was contained within the site and recovered.
In both incidents, the closest occupied building and water wells were over one mile from the spills. The contaminated soils were removed and the contractor is responsible for its disposals.