North Dakota well shut off after spill

BISMARCK, October 21, 2015 – Oasis Petroleum shut off a well that had been leaking oil, natural gas and brine in North Dakota, the US hydrocarbons operator reported Tuesday.

The Helling Trust 11-15H well experienced a blowout on Saturday night, causing about 1,600 barrels of oil and nearly 318,000 litres of salt water to leak onto the well pad. Oasis Petroleum recruited US oilfield services company Superior Energy Services to stem the leak by capping the well with 125,000 litres of bentonite clay. The well is now permanently shut off. While the reason behind the blowout remains unknown, a hydraulic fracturing operation at a nearby well may be the cause.

According to state officials, a Missouri River tributary that lies about 260 metres from the well has been endangered, as it absorbed some of the oil spray carried on the wind.

The well, which had been producing since 2011, is located on the outer edge of the prolific Bakken shale formation.

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