CALGARY, Alberta, June 17 (UPI) -- Construction activity in northern Alberta was the likely cause of the mechanical failure of the 49-mile Kemp pipeline, operator Plains Midstream Canada said.
Plains said it was taking advantage of long summer daylight hours to respond to a release from its Kemp pipeline system in northern Alberta. About 950 barrels of oil spilled from the six-inch diameter pipeline.
"Investigation is progressing and the affected section of the pipeline is being removed to be inspected by a qualified third-party firm," the company said in a statement Sunday. "Early indications are that the pipeline experienced external mechanical damage, likely attributed to construction equipment known to have been in the area."
The release is the third for Canada so far this month. Regulators last week said they were responding to a crude oil release near the St. Clair River in Ontario. Thousands of gallons of toxic waste water were released accidentally by Apache Canada last week in northern Alberta province.
Plains said remediation efforts were under way at the site of the Kemp release.
"Plains has conducted a wildlife assessment and have confirmed that no wildlife impacts have been identified," the company said. "Assessments will continue and mitigation measures will continue to be deployed."
