Enbridge Energy Partners says Ill. pipeline leaked 6,100 barrels of oil; almost all cleaned up

Illinois pipeline leak spilled 6,100 bls of oil

HOUSTON — Enbridge Energy Partners LP said Monday an estimated 6,100 barrels of crude oil were released from a pipeline leak in Romeoville, Ill. before it could be shut down.

The Houston company, which owns the pipeline, said only a small amount of the oil escaped from the immediate area before crews corralled the spill with vacuum trucks. Most of the oil has been recovered, Enbridge said.

Enbridge reported the leak on Line 6A of the Lakehead System on Thursday. The company said the line was shut down within minutes after being discovered, and the oil pooled onto a roadway and then a retention bond. Line 6A was transporting 459,000 barrels per day of heavy crude when the leak was discovered.

The line remains shut down. The company would not give an estimate of when it would be restarted.