Northern Alberta pipeline leak spills estimated 100,000 litres of 'sour emulsion'

The Alberta Energy Regulator says an oil and gas company under court protection from creditors is reporting the leak of an estimated 100,000 litres of oilfield liquids from a pipeline in northern Alberta.

The provincial regulator says it is responding to the release of an oil-water mixture known as "sour emulsion" from an Accel Energy Canada line about 24 kilometres southwest of Swan Hills, reported by the company last Thursday evening.

It says the pipeline has been shut down and depressurized and the company is taking steps to clean up the spill.

The volume of the release is unknown at this time but is estimated to be approximately 100 m3, the AER said in a statement.

"AER staff are on site to oversee the company's clean-up activities and to ensure all safety and environmental requirements are met during the response to the incident.

"There are no reported impacts to the public or wildlife at this time."

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The AER says that PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. has been appointed to monitor Accel while in creditor protection but the licence for the assets remains with the company.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

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