Current:Home > ScamsExtreme cold weather causing oil spills in North Dakota; 60 reports over past week-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Extreme cold weather causing oil spills in North Dakota; 60 reports over past week
View
Date:2024-12-24 02:41:48
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Bitter cold weather is causing a rash of spills in the oil fields of North Dakota as well as a slowdown in production, regulators say.
North Dakota has seen multiple days of frigid weather with windchills at times reaching as low as minus 70 degrees (minus 57 Celsius) in its Bakken oil fields. Regulators say that strains workers and equipment, which can result in mishaps that lead to spills.
More than 60 spills and other gas or oil environmental problems have been reported in the last week, according to the state’s spill dashboard.
“This is probably the worst little stretch that I’ve seen since I took over the spill program” a decade ago, North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Spill Investigation Program Manager Bill Suess told the Bismarck Tribune.
Public health is not at risk due to the remoteness of the spills, Suess said. The spills most commonly have involved crude oil and produced water — wastewater that is a byproduct of oil and gas production, containing oil, drilling chemicals and salts. Produced water spills can cause long-term damage to impacted land.
Some companies are already engaged in cleanup despite the extreme cold, while others wait for the weather to warm. Suess said that given the extreme circumstances, the agency is giving companies some breathing room, but still expects the work to begin soon.
“They can’t wait until spring thaw,” Suess said. “They’re going to have to get out there working on these in the next say week or so.”
Production has declined during the cold spell, in part because companies are trying to prevent spills, said North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness. North Dakota producers are used to the cold, but “20 below is a different level,” Ness said.
As of Wednesday morning, the state’s output was estimated to be down 650,000 to 700,000 barrels of oil a day, and 1.7 to 1.9 billion cubic feet of gas per day, said North Dakota Pipeline Authority Executive Director Justin Kringstad. By comparison, the state produced an average of 1.24 million barrels of oil per day and 3.4 billion cubic feet of gas per day in October.
Kent Kirkhammer, CEO of Minot-based NewKota Services and Rentals, said only so much can get accomplished in harsh conditions when equipment freezes. He said the company is focused on ensuring that employees avoid being outside for too long.
“When it gets that cold, safety is first, but (we’re) just trying to keep things going,” he said.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Ashton Jeanty stats: How many rushing yards did Boise State Heisman hopeful have vs Nevada
- Inside Clean Energy: In a Week of Sobering Climate News, Let’s Talk About Batteries
- Why Richard Branson's rocket company, Virgin Orbit, just filed for bankruptcy
- Glee’s Kevin McHale Recalls Jenna Ushkowitz and Naya Rivera Confronting Him Over Steroid Use
- Tom Brady Shares How He's Preparing for Son Jack to Be a Stud
- Vivek Ramaswamy reaches donor threshold for first Republican presidential primary debate
- Biden Could Score a Climate Victory in a Single Word: Plastics
- Kourtney Kardashian Blasts Intolerable Kim Kardashian's Greediness Amid Feud
- Exclusive Yankee Candle Sale: 50% Off Holiday Candles for a Limited Time
- Kim Cattrall Reveals One Demand She Had for Her And Just Like That Surprise Appearance
Ranking
- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had mild stroke this month, team says
- Oil and Gas Companies ‘Flare’ or ‘Vent’ Excess Natural Gas. It’s Like Burning Money—and it’s Bad for the Environment
- The EPA proposes tighter limits on toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants
- Florida's new Black history curriculum says slaves developed skills that could be used for personal benefit
- Officer injured at Ferguson protest shows improvement, transferred to rehab
- AI companies agree to voluntary safeguards, Biden announces
- See Bre Tiesi’s Shoutout to “Daddy” Nick Cannon on Their Son Legendary Love’s First Birthday
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Officially Move Out of Frogmore Cottage
Recommendation
Sydney Sweeney Slams Women Empowerment in the Industry as Being Fake
Texas’ Wildfire Risks, Amplified by Climate Change, Are Second Only to California’s
Dear Life Kit: My boyfriend's parents pay for everything. It makes me uncomfortable
Kelsea Ballerini Speaks Out After Onstage Incident to Address Critics Calling Her Soft
Judge set to rule on whether to scrap Trump’s conviction in hush money case
Inside Clean Energy: Vote Solar’s Leader Is Stepping Down. Here’s What He and His Group Built
Noah Cyrus Shares How Haters Criticizing Her Engagement Reminds Her of Being Suicidal at Age 11
Margot Robbie Channels OG Barbie With Sexy Vintage Look