BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota officials estimated that last week’s blizzard caused the state’s daily oil output to drop by 25%.
North Dakota Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad told the Bismarck Tribune that wintry weather expected this weekend could prolong the slowdown. It typically takes one to three weeks for the state’s oil industry to recover from an extreme weather event, he said.
Winter storms pose issues for the oil industry, as impassible roads can prevent trucks from accessing well sites.
Last week’s storm also caused at least one significant spill and fire in the oil fields. A representative of McKenzie Energy Partners said it appears snow inundated an electrical panel at a saltwater disposal site southeast of Keene, starting the fire.
Todd Thurman, director of midstream for McKenzie, said it took workers and local firefighters two days to reach the site, due to snow-covered roads.
No one was injured, but the incident prompted a spill of 2,400 barrels or 100,800 gallons of saltwater, also known as brine or produced water. An additional 50 barrels or 2,100 gallons of oil also spilled. The fluid was contained to the site, and the company is working on cleanup, Thurman said.
State officials reported one other sizable spill in the oil fields last week, though it was not clear if weather was a factor.