May 2016, Vol. 243, No. 5
Web Exclusive
Shell: Pipeline Fixed after California Oil Spill
Officials at Shell Oil Co. say crews have repaired an underground pipeline after it broke and spilled up to 21,000 gallons of oil in rural Northern California.
Company spokesman Ray Fisher said Tuesday that workers are running small amounts of oil through the pipeline to test it and are working on cleaning up the contaminated soil near Tracy, about an hour east of San Francisco.
Shell reported the leak after noticing that its pipeline lost pressure Friday morning, and it shut off the flow of oil. San Joaquin County officials say the crude was visible in a 250-by-40-foot area on the ground.
Fisher says “the fact it’s already been repaired speaks to the expedience” with which Shell has handled the break.
Environmentalists say they’re assessing whether the spill poses risks to wildlife and underground water reserves.
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