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Synthetic oil leak shuts down Enbridge pipeline in northern Alberta

Enbridge file
An Enbridge oil pipeline and tank storage facility is shown in Hardisty, Alta., June 20, 2007. Larry MacDougal / The Canadian Press

CALGARY – An Enbridge pipeline has sprung a leak in northern Alberta.

The company issued a release late Saturday night saying an estimated 750 barrels of light synthetic crude oil had spilled onto the ground approximately 70 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray.

The company says it shut down its Line 37 pipe early Saturday morning and installed booms to contain the spill.

As a precaution, all other Enbridge pipelines in the area have also been shut down, including the Athabasca and Waupisoo lines.

Enbridge says there have been no reports of harm to wildlife and that it’s working with Alberta Environment officials and local aboriginal communities to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

There’s no official word yet on the cause of the leak, but Enbridge says it believes heavy rain in the area may have resulted in ground movement that impacted the pipeline.

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Read more: Crude awakening, 37 years of oil spills in Alberta

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