North Dakota Department of Health : Emulsion Spill in Billings County

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: For More Information, Contact:

January 23, 2017 Bill Suess

Environmental Health Section Phone: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Emulsion Spill in Billings County

BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) has been notified of an emulsion spill resulting from a flow line leak in Billings County at a site operated by White Rock Oil and Gas. Emulsion is a mixture of oil and salt water that comes out of the well prior to treatment. Flow lines transport emulsion from the wellhead to the treater unit. The spill occurred Saturday, Jan. 21, approximately 16 miles northwest of Belfield.

Initial estimates indicate approximately 280 barrels of salt water and 20 barrels of oil were released. Oil and salt water flowed into a drainage area that leads to Franks Creek. Of this, an unknown amount of salt water flowed through the drainage and into Franks Creek. A dam has been constructed across Franks Creek approximately 0.75 miles from the release point. Crude oil appears to be confined to the drainage. Personnel from the North Dakota Oil and Gas Division and the NDDoH are at the site. NDDoH personnel will continue to monitor the investigation and remediation.

For more information, contact Bill Suess, North Dakota Department of Health, at 701.328.5216.

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600 E. Boulevard Ave. Dept. 301, Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0200 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]E-mail: [e-mail]

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