Boston, MA 10/13/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE:OAS) reported a saltwater spill in the North Dakota on Wednesday, said a state health official.
According to a news article, a saltwater leak was detected in a tributary of a reservoir built on the Missouri River in the western part of North Dakota. The spill is estimated to be around 42,000 gallons and has reportedly caused great damage to the vegetation in the area. However, drinking water resources have not been spoiled so far according to the report.
Environmental Damage
Saltwater, considered an environmental threat, is an unwanted product discarded during oil production. It contains salt in quantities exceeding that of sea water and is capable of destroying all vegetation that it encounters.
An environmental geologist, Kris Roberts, working with the North Dakota Health Department said that the spill was first reported earlier in this week. He also assured that since the initial report, inspectors, as well as cleanup crews have been working on the site. He said that the news of the leak was first reported by the Houston-based oil and natural gas producing company, Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE:OAS).
Immediate Action
According to Roberts’ reports, the briny water spilled from a corroded steel pipeline around the well. Although some of the wastewater around the site was cleaned up, some of it managed to flow downstream, to a tributary of the Lake Sakakawea. The reports claim that the wastewater was free of any chemicals involved with the drilling process. Moreover, by the time the spill reaches the Missouri River reservoir, it will be diluted enough to be safe.
Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE:OAS) is cleaning up 6 inches of topsoil, as well as the areas that have been damaged around the creek. It is also making efforts to replace the damaged area with clean dirt.
A similar incident in the area, recording a leak of about 1 million gallons of saltwater, was earlier reported in July.
