Oil Country Records Weekend Spills in McKenzie County

A crude oil spill and a release of brine at two different locations in McKenzie County over the weekend are keeping state regulators busy.

The crude oil spill, from a pipeline owned by True Oil, happened on Friday, March 27th and has affected about one-and-a-half miles of Red Wing Creek; the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality says it hasn't yet been contained. The amount of oil spilled hasn't been announced, and the cause of the spill is under investigation.

On Sunday, March 29th, 608 barrels of brine were released due to an equipment failure at the Hydro Clear SWD 1 saltwater disposal well, about eleven miles north of Watford City according to a release from the North Dakota Oil and Gas Division on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Missouri Basin Well Service, Inc reported Monday that product was contained on-site, and at the time of reporting all 608 barrels had been recovered. A state inspector has been to the location and will monitor any additional cleanup.