Keystone Pipeline Spill Releases 3,500 Barrels in North Dakota

The Keystone Pipeline has been shut down following a leak near Fort Ransom, North Dakota, which resulted in an estimated 3,500 barrels (approximately 147,000 gallons) of crude oil being released into an agricultural field. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality confirmed that the pipeline was shut down almost immediately after the leak was discovered. This incident marks a continuation of concerns regarding the pipeline's safety, as it follows a pattern of increasingly frequent spills identified by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. South Bow, the current owner of the pipeline, has stated that the affected segment has been isolated and the release contained. A 2021 report indicated that there had been 22 spills from the Keystone pipeline between 2010 and 2020, with worsening spill severity in recent years. The Keystone pipeline is critical for transporting oil from Canada to U.S. markets, accounting for a significant portion of Canada's crude exports.