A North Slope oil spill has been reported from the same pipeline that froze and ruptured in November, leaking 46,000 gallons of crude oil and oily water. Steve Rinehart, a spokesman for Lisburne oil field operator BP Exploration, says the new leak reported Wednesday is estimated at less than one barrel, which consists of 42 gallons. He says the leak had stopped by the time it was discovered at an elevated section of the 18-inch flowline during a regular inspection. The material splattered over a 2,000-square foot area, landing on the edge of a nearby drill pad and the tundra below it. The cause is unknown.
The Associated Press
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