Thousands of gallons of crude oil were halted from flowing through the Keystone pipeline on Tuesday after a leak was detected in a rural area of North Dakota.
The pipeline, which moves oil from Canada to the United States, was quickly shut down by South Bow, the operator of the line. The company said its control center noticed a sudden drop in pressure and acted fast to stop the flow.
What Happened and Where?
The spill occurred near Fort Ransom, North Dakota. According to state officials, oil surfaced roughly 300 yards south of a pump station in a field. Fortunately, no people or buildings were harmed.
A seasonal stream near the area was not affected but was isolated as a precaution. The exact amount of oil released has not been confirmed.
“The affected segment has been isolated, and operations and containment resources have been mobilized to site,” said South Bow in a statement. “Our primary focus right now is the safety of onsite personnel and mitigating risk to the environment.”
Quick Response on the Ground
An on-site worker heard a “mechanical bang” and stopped the system within two minutes, according to Bill Suess from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Even so, officials say the short time it took to react may still have allowed a sizable spill.
“We’ve had much bigger spills before,” Suess said. “I don’t think it’s going to be that huge, but we’ll know more as the cleanup progresses.”
Pipeline Background
The Keystone Pipeline began operating in 2010 and cost $5.2 billion to build. It stretches across multiple U.S. states — including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri — and ends at refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma.
While the line was built by TC Energy, operations were transferred to South Bow in early 2024.
The 30-inch pipeline carries crude oil from Canadian oil fields, helping to meet U.S. energy demands. However, it has also been at the center of several environmental debates and past incidents.
Past Spills and Environmental Concerns
This isn’t the first time the Keystone pipeline has leaked. A major spill in 2019 released over 380,000 gallons of oil in Walsh County, North Dakota, marking one of the largest onshore crude spills in the last decade.
Environmentalists have long raised concerns about the pipeline’s impact. One of the most controversial projects linked to the original pipeline was the now-canceled Keystone XL extension. That project would have expanded the line to the Gulf Coast but was stopped in 2021 after widespread protests by environmental groups and Indigenous communities.
Ongoing Investigation
The cause of Tuesday’s rupture is still under review. South Bow and state environmental teams are working together to contain the oil and clean the area.
Officials say they’ll release full details, including the volume of the spill, once the investigation is complete.
What’s Next?
The shutdown of the pipeline could have short-term effects on crude oil shipments from Canada. However, analysts expect minimal disruption to the wider market unless the line remains offline for an extended period.
