TransCanada Pipelines Ltd., an affiliate of TC Energy Corp., has shut down its 610,000-b/d Keystone pipeline system and mobilized people and equipment in response to a confirmed 14,000-bbl release of oil into a creek in Washington County, Kan., about 20 miles (32 km) south of Steele City, Neb. The company initiated the emergency shutdown and response at about 8:00 p.m. Central time, Dec. 7, 2022, after alarms and a detected pressure drop in the system.
TransCanada has isolated the affected segment and deployed booms to control downstream migration of the release. The system remains shutdown as crews actively respond and work to contain and recover the oil, the company said.
The company notified customers Nov. 14, 2022, of a force majeure on the Keystone system resulting from the effects of severe winter weather, with volumes curtailed starting the following day.
[UPDATED Dec. 9 to include size of release]
