Yellowstone oil spill has spread farther, Exxon Mobil says

Yellowstone oil spill has spread farther, Exxon Mobil says:

The oil has spread 15 miles beyond the leak, the firm says. Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer says all oil and gas pipelines that cross state waterways will be reviewed and those that do not meet standards will be closed.

Oil from a Yellowstone River pipeline has spread at least 15 miles beyond the initial leak, Exxon Mobil acknowledged Monday — five miles farther than the company estimated a day earlier.

Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co. President Gary Pruessing pledged to do “whatever is necessary” to find and mop up spilled crude from the 12-inch pipeline that broke at the bottom of the river near Billings over the weekend.

As cleanup of up to 42,000 of gallons of oil intensified, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said authorities would review the safety of all oil and gas pipelines that cross state waterways and close those that do not meet standards.

“We’ll make the decision over the next couple of days whether to shut off some pipelines,” Schweitzer told Reuters in a telephone interview. “The last thing I want is for another pipeline to break.”

The cause of the spill has not been determined, but officials have speculated that surging waters may have scoured the river bottom and exposed the pipeline to debris that could have damaged the pipe.

[latimes.com July 5, 2011]