XTO has small spill at Nikiski facility

XTO Energy had a 6,300-gallon spill of crude oil and process water, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Spill Prevention and Response said Jan. 10.

The spill, discovered at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 9, was reported to DEC by XTO at 4:50 p.m. that day, the agency said.

The spill was caused by a faulty gasket on an access plate on XTO Energy tank No. 3 at the company’s Nikiski onshore facility. DEC said the access plate is used for tank inspection and maintenance when the tank is empty.

Upon discovery, process flow into the 5,000-barrel tank was redirected to other storage tanks in the facility and the fluid level in tank No. 3 was pumped down to a level below the leaking access cover.

XTO and contractors recovered free liquids from the secondary containment area the night of Jan. 9 and completed delineation of the impacted area and began gross removal of contaminated snow and ice Jan. 10.

DEC said no resources were affected by the release as all spilled fluids were captured within the secondary containment area.

—Petroleum News