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Oil spill reported in North Dakota

Spill follows record-setting production levels.

By Daniel J. Graeber
Broken pipe at North Dakota drill site leads to minor oil spill. UPI/Brian Kersey
Broken pipe at North Dakota drill site leads to minor oil spill. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

BISMARCK, N.D., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The government of North Dakota said it was responding to the spill of oil from a broken pipeline in the northern part of the state near the Canadian border.

The North Dakota Department of Health said it was responding to an oil spill about six miles southeast of Westhope. The agency said the spill was the result of a broken pipeline at a site owned by drilling company Enduro Operating.

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Only three barrels of oil, or about 126 gallons, were spilled and the Department of Health said most was recovered using a vacuum truck. The affected soil will be removed from the site and residual oil will be burned off.

No health advisories were issued by the Department of Health and no comment was distributed on the Wednesday release from Endoro Operating.

North Dakota's economy is booming as a result of the exponential increase in oil production in the state.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission said June oil production of 1.09 million barrels per day was a record for the state and a 4.8 percent increase from the previous month.

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Nearly all of the oil produced in North Dakota comes from the Bakken and Three Forks area.

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