A source water spill of 2,000 barrels was reported to the North Dakota Department of Health last week, with the water reaching a tributary of the Little Missouri River.
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
A source water spill of 2,000 barrels was reported to the North Dakota Department of Health last week, with the water reaching a tributary of the Little Missouri River.
The large spill occurred Dec. 1 approximately 12 miles southwest of Rhame in Bowman County at a well owned by Denbury Onshore. Fluids entered Skull Creek, a tributary of the Little Missouri River.
Karl Rockeman, director of the Department of Health’s Water Quality Division, told The Pioneer on Wednesday that the water would ultimately reach the Little Missouri River. Though, he indicated that the leaked water’s salt content wasn’t high enough to be a violation in state water standards.
“We’re not seeing an impact in the Skull Creek so we probably won’t in the Little Missouri either,” Rockeman said.
Equipment failure was reported to the department as a cause for the spill. Rockeman said that Denbury, who is solely responsible for the spill, has plans to abandon that pipeline and replace it.
Source water is used for enhanced oil recovery and is higher in dissolved solids and minerals than fresh water, but does not carry the same environmental implications as produced water.
The department has responded to the situation and will work with Denbury on remediation plans. Rockeman said, however, that there would be no remediation in the creek.
