Crews Clean Up After Oil Geyser Near Vancouver
Date: 26-Jul-07
Country: CANADA
Crews attempted to mop up pools of thick black oil left by the accident Tuesday in Burnaby, British Columbia, when a road construction crew struck the line used to load crude from Alberta on to ships in Vancouver's port.
Pipeline owner Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP has not said how much oil leaked in the accident. Witnesses said a geyser spewed up to 40 feet (12 meters) in the air for more than 20 minutes before the line was shut down.
Some of the oil reached Burrard Inlet, where containment booms have been put in place.
The oil geyser left trees, yards, and construction equipment coated in thick black goo. There were no injuries, but Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan said officials were concerned about the long-term environmental impact.
It was unclear if a map given to the road repair crew by Kinder Morgan had the accurate location of the line, or if the information was misinterpreted by the workers.
"This is an unusual situation in which obviously things went very very wrong," Corrigan told reporters.
The broken line links Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline system with Westridge Marine Terminal, where crude oil is shipped to overseas markets and aviation fuel for Vancouver International Airport is received.
An airport official said the pipeline used to ship aviation fuel was not affected by the accident.
