The final report on the Husky Energy oil spill north of Maidstone has been released.
The spill took place back on July 21, and sent more than 200,000 litres of oil and solvent into the river. As the oil drifted downstream, multiple municipalities had to shut down their river water intakes, which led to difficulties for residents along the river in getting fresh water.
According to the company’s report, the break was due to “geotechnical forces” or ground movement, which caused the pipe to break.
An evaluation of the metallurgic state of the pipe concluded the break was a “sudden, one-time event in a section of the pipe that had buckled due to the force of ground movement.”
The report also said the break was not the result of any material defect, corrosion, or deficiency in the pipe itself, and that a 1997 third-party assessment of the area the pipe was installed in had concluded the area was not geotechnically active.
“We know the impact this incident had on communities and would like to acknowledge the extraordinary assistance we’ve received throughout,” said Mel DuVall, a spokesperson for Husky.
“From the beginning we have taken full responsibility and continue to do so. Based on our findings, we are moving forward with a number of immediate actions while regulators continue with their review. While the investigation has concluded the pipeline was designed and constructed in accordance with applicable standards and operators responded appropriately, it is our intention to use these findings to further enhance our systems.”
The company plans on regularly assessing geotechnical risks, and reviewing the practices of leak detection and procedures. They will also be adjusting leak detection systems to reduce false alarms.