oil leak in N. China

[xinhui]

700 people try to control oil leak in N. China
By Uking Sun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-01-02 21:54
700 people try to control oil leak in N. China

A large amount of diesel oil that leaked from a key pipeline of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) polluted the Wei River in Weinan, north China's Shaanxi province, China News Agency reported Saturday.

The accident happened on the pipeline that connects Lanzhou in northwest China’s Gansu province to Zhengzhou in central China’s Henan province on December 30, 20009. The leaked oil first entered into Chishui River, a tributary of Wei River.

A section of river spanning 33 kilometers reported pollution, Shaanxi TV said. It was not clear how many tons of diesel oil leaked.

CNPC, the country's largest oil and gas producer, and local government mobilized over 700 people to cordon off the contaminated area and start clean-up actions. The cold temperatures helped rescue workers collect the leaked oil, local media reported.

Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang urged the local government to prevent the oil from entering the Yellow River and ensure the safety of drinking water. Eleven barriers were set up downriver of the Wei River.

China News Agency reported preliminary investigation showed the pipeline was damaged by construction conducted by a third party. No details were given.

[xinhui]

SHANGHAI — A large oil spill in northwest China has heavily polluted a tributary of the Yellow River, and threatens to reach one of the country’s longest and most important sources of water.

China’s state-run news media said late Saturday that a “large amount” of diesel oil had leaked out of a pipeline last Thursday in Shaanxi Province.

The government has not explained why the report of the spill was not released until late Saturday. But Xinhua, the official state news agency, said the leak was caused by construction work and that a crew of 700 people was struggling to contain the damage from what Shaanxi officials said was about 150,000 liters, or about 40,000 gallons, of diesel oil.

The damaged pipeline belongs to the China National Petroleum Corporation, one of the country’s state-owned oil giants and the parent company of PetroChina. The company did not specify on Saturday exactly how much oil was spilled but said that it had shut down the pipeline. The company also said that “much of the leaked oil and polluted silt has already been taken away.” But government officials in Shaanxi province said on Saturday that oil has been detected far downstream from the leak and warned local residents not to use water in the region.

The oil pipeline, which transports oil from northwest China to central parts of the country, was damaged and released oil into the Chisui River and Wei River, a tributary of the Yellow River, according to Xinhua.

The Yellow River, which stretches for about 5,500 kilometers, or about 3,400 miles, is a source of water for approximately 140 million residents, and it also provides water to factories and farms through northern China.

In November 2005, a huge amount of toxic benzyme leaked out and damaged the Songhua River in north China’s Heilongjiang Province, cutting off water supplies for millions of residents.

Some local officials were disciplined for a delay in reporting the spill, which later created a panic among residents.

Large Oil Spill Reported in China - NYTimes.com