The operator of the Keystone oil pipeline resumed operations on Monday after a spill onto farmland in North Dakota last week led to a shutdown of the system. South Bow, the company behind the pipeline, noted that it had carefully planned the restart, which includes 24/7 monitoring, reduced operating pressures, site cleanup, and adherence to federal regulations. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) confirmed that the pipeline was restarted at a lower pressure.
The section that failed has been dug up and replaced, and the failed material will be sent to a metallurgical lab in Houston for testing. Meanwhile, the repaired pipeline will undergo pressure testing to ensure its integrity. PHMSA’s investigation into the cause of the spill is ongoing.
South Bow stated that all repairs, inspections, and testing at the spill site had been completed, with PHMSA approving the restart plan. The company also announced that certain pressure restrictions would be imposed on the pipeline’s Canadian sections, sharing this information with Canadian regulators.
While the company did not specify the cause of the spill, an employee reported hearing a “mechanical bang” before shutting down the pipeline within two minutes. The spill, which is estimated at 3,500 barrels (147,000 gallons), occurred in a field north of Fort Ransom, North Dakota, a region known for its scenic views and outdoor activities. As of early Friday, vacuum trucks had recovered approximately 1,170 barrels (49,140 gallons) of crude oil.
The Keystone Pipeline, which stretches 2,689 miles from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas, was shut down from Alberta to Illinois and an Oklahoma terminal. However, the line remained open between Oklahoma and Texas’ Gulf Coast.
Despite the shutdown, the impact on gas prices has been minimal, due in part to falling oil prices linked to tariff issues. Gas prices have decreased across most states over the past week, largely driven by lower oil prices resulting from trade concerns. However, diesel prices might see a slight increase, according to energy expert Ramanan Krishnamoorti.
