Oil Field Explosion Shuts Down Highway Near Watford City, North Dakota
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A tank battery explosion in the heart of North Dakota’s oil patch prompted the closure of state Highway 23 for several hours, according to reports from state troopers. The incident, which occurred late Monday, December 29th, near Watford City, raised concerns about potential further explosions and environmental impact.
Highway Closure and Containment Efforts
The North Dakota Highway Patrol announced Tuesday morning, December 30th, that State Highway 23 was closed at Johnson’s Corner, approximately 15 miles east of Watford City, due to the oil field site explosion. While the fire was successfully contained to a single tank at the battery site, located 3 miles west of Johnson’s Corner, authorities initially reported that four additional tanks were at risk of igniting.
Incident Details and Response
According to McKenzie County Sheriff Matthew Johansen, the explosion took place around 11 p.m. Monday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. The highway fully reopened to traffic early Tuesday evening, as confirmed by the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office via a Facebook post.
What happened? A tank battery exploded at an oil field site near johnson’s Corner, North Dakota, on December 29th. Who was involved? The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Keene fire department, Select water Solutions, and the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources responded. Why did it happen? The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation. how did it end? Firefighters contained the blaze to a single tank, and the highway reopened to traffic Tuesday evening.
Environmental Concerns and Cleanup
select Water Solutions, a Texas-based oilfield water infrastructure company, reported the release of approximately 4,000 barrels – equivalent to roughly 168,000 gallons – of produced water from the affected tank. The North Dakota Department of mineral Resources dispatched a state inspector to the site to oversee ongoing cleanup operations. A tank battery is defined as an interconnected grouping of tanks used to receive produced water, or wastewater, generated from oil wells.
investigation and Firefighting Efforts
the cause of the explosion remains under investigation, Sheriff Johansen stated. The Keene Fire department played a crucial role in suppressing the blaze. Firefighters from Keene,a town approximately 9 miles north of Johnson’s Corner,proactively constructed dikes around the tank battery site to prevent the released wastewater from contaminating nearby natural water sources. State troopers assisted with perimeter security and road closure management during the firefighting efforts. The Highway Patrol advised the public to avoid Johnson’s Corner and seek alternative routes while the highway was closed.
Watford City is situated roughly 85 miles northwest of Dickinson.
The incident underscores the inherent risks associated with oil and gas production and the importance of robust safety measures and rapid response protocols.
