BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Keystone oil pipeline experienced a rupture early Tuesday morning in North Dakota, leading to a shutdown of the system. The incident took place near Fort Ransom, and preliminary assessments indicate that the oil spill was confined to an agricultural field.
At this time, the specific cause of the rupture and the exact volume of crude oil that spilled remain unclear. An employee in the vicinity reported hearing a "mechanical bang," prompting him to shut down the pipeline within approximately two minutes of the incident. Bill Suess, the spill investigation program manager with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, shared these details with the media.
According to reports, oil began surfacing approximately 300 yards (274 meters) south of the pump station in the affected field, which prompted a swift response from emergency personnel. Fortunately, Suess noted that no people or structures were impacted by the spill, and a nearby stream—known for seasonal flow—was not affected. However, as a precautionary measure, the stream was blocked off and isolated from the area of the spill.
While it remains uncertain at what rate the 30-inch (0.8-meter) pipeline was transporting oil at the time of the rupture, Suess indicated that even within the short window of two minutes, the volume of spilled oil would likely be significant. He acknowledged that there have been much larger spills associated with the Keystone pipeline in the past, including a notable incident in Walsh County, North Dakota, occurring a few years ago. “I don’t think it’s going to be that huge,” Suess remarked regarding the current spill's magnitude.
The Keystone Pipeline, which was completed in 2011 at a cost of $5.2 billion, transports crude oil across several regions, including Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada, and through North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri, ultimately reaching refineries located in Illinois and Oklahoma. Originally developed by TC Energy, the pipeline has been managed by the liquid pipelines business, South Bow, since 2024.
The situation concerning the spill continues to develop, and the Associated Press has attempted to reach out to South Bow for a statement regarding the incident.
In addition to the current spill, it is worth noting that a proposed extension known as Keystone XL had aimed to facilitate the transport of crude oil directly to refineries on the Gulf Coast. However, this plan was abandoned by the company in 2021 following extensive protests from environmental activists and Indigenous communities, who raised significant concerns about the potential environmental impact of the pipeline.
