Why the Keystone Pipeline Oil Spill in Kansas Is So Hard to Clean Up

In November 2019, a pipeline owned by TransCanada Corporation spilled over 383,000 gallons of oil in northeastern Kansas – making it the third-largest oil spill in the state’s history. The Keystone Pipeline, an underground crude oil pipeline, is one of the largest of its kind and runs from Alberta, Canada to Texas. The spill happened near Rock Creek, approximately nine miles from where the pipeline enters Kansas from Nebraska.

Cleaning up an oil spill is a difficult and expensive process and cleanup efforts have been hampered by the remote location of the spill in a wetland area. This is mainly because the physical environment of the wetland and the complexity of the situation makes the removal of the oil, and the repair of the environment, even more difficult. In addition to the remote location, elements like the wetland soil, scrapers and other debris mixed with the oil, and cold winter weather have made it harder to access, clean and restore the soil and water sourced by the wetland.

Another challenge is that TransCanada has yet to identify what type of oil spilled, a key factor in assessing the environmental damage. Without this information, it is unclear how long it will take for the area to recover. Even with cleanup methods such as digging trenches and using vacuum truck, the process will take months, if not years, and more so if the sediment has settled into high water tables and ground.

Finally, the amount of potential financial losses associated with the spill are immense due to the potential long-term damage to the surrounding environment. Loss of property, income and disruption of services may lead to lawsuits and a long-term impact on the areas water sources and wildlife.

In short, the Keystone Pipeline oil spill in Kansas presents a difficult and complex situation to clean up. Location and environmental factors, lack of information on the type of oil spilled, and potential financial losses make this spill difficult to contain and clean up. While the cleanup process has started, it is likely to take some time for the area to be restored to its previous state.