Pipeline Spill Forces Kearl Oil Sands Shutdown

摘要

A spill on an Alberta pipeline carrying diluent has forced at least one oil sands operator to shut in production, the latest hiccup in efforts to bring Canadian production back on line after volumes were shut in earlier this year. Imperial Oil, Exxon Mobil's Canadian affiliate, said Wednesday that it is ramping down operations at its 235,000 barrel per day Kearl mine due to the shutdown of the Polaris pipeline. “All production at the Kearl operation has ceased at this time, and the facilities remain ready to ramp up to full production rates once the diluent pipeline is back in service and diluent supply is restored,” Imperial said in a statement, adding that it is “pursuing a number of steps” to try to mitigate the impacts.