EPA: Threat gone of more leaked oil from failed Silvertip line

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 19 -- The threat of secondary releases from the ruptured portion of the Silvertip crude oil pipeline belonging to ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. has been eliminated, federal officials announced in Billings, Mont., following a July 1 pipeline break that resulted in an oil spill in the Yellowstone River.

All residual oil and oily water mixture was removed from the two segments of pipeline on either side of the break location, a July 18 news release from the US Environmental Protection Agency confirmed.

ExxonMobil estimates 1,000 bbl of oil was released from the leak in its 69-mile, 12-in. OD Silvertip crude pipeline. Cause of the pipeline break remains under investigation (OGJ, July 18, 2011, Newsletter).

Going forward, the pipeline break site is under the jurisdiction of the US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, EPA said.

EPA teams assessed 47 river miles of shoreline, reporting light-to-moderate oil coverage on shoreline and island vegetation.