TransCanada shuts Keystone crude pipeline after oil spill in South Dakota, US

TransCanada has closed its Keystone crude pipeline after detecting an oil spill in South Dakota, US.

The incident took place about four miles away from the Freeman pump station in Hutchinson County and a spill of about 187 gallons of crude oil was reported to the Coast Guard’s National Response Center.

CNN Money reported TransCanada saying that it is in the process of removing the oil.

TransCanada said: "No significant impact to the environment has been observed."

The company closed a portion of the Keystone pipeline that transfers oil from Alberta, Canada, to Cushing, Oklahoma. However, a section that connects Cushing to Nederland, Texas, remains operational.

Following the incident, emergency response procedures were activated and TransCanada sent ground crews to carry out investigation.

The company was not clear about the quantity of oil that was spilled.

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission chairman Chris Nelson told cbcnews: "We’ve been given an early estimate, but until they actually dig down to the pipeline, I don’t think they’re going to have a firm number on the exact number of gallons that were involved."

TransCanada is also investigating to determine the leak’s cause.

On 6 November 2015, US President Barack Obama denied the required presidential permit for the proposed 1,897km, 36in-diameter crude oil Keystone XL pipeline after a seven-year review process.

TransCanada challenged the denial on 6 January by announcing that the company has taken legal action under the North American Free Trade Agreement and also initiated Constitutional litigation against the US Administration.

---

Image: Pipes for the Keystone Pipeline. Photo: courtesy of shannonpatrick17.