Enbridge reports oil spill in Wisconsin; Superior-Chicago pipeline shut down

GRAND MARSH, Wis. — A pipeline carrying crude oil to Chicago area refineries has leaked about 1,200 barrels of oil into a Wisconsin field, Enbridge Energy Partners said Saturday.

The company said the oil spill happened about 2:45 p.m. Friday near Grand Marsh, Wis., about 60 miles north-northwest of Madison. Employees detected a drop in pressure, shut down the pipeline and dispatched emergency crews to the area.

Enbridge said the spill was contained in field, most of which is in the pipeline's right of way. No one was hurt. The pipeline, Line 14, runs from Superior to the Chicago area.

“Enbridge is treating this situation as a top priority,” said Richard Adams, an Enbridge vice president. “We are bringing all necessary resources to bear. Our immediate focus is on keeping our workers and the public safe as we work to remove the oil and clean up the site.”

The company said the cause of the spill is still under investigation, and it is working with emergency officials and regulators. It said it couldn't say when the pipeline might restart.

The leak happened in a 24-inch pipeline that mainly carries light crude oil to Chicago-area refineries, Enbridge said. The line, installed in 1998, can carry up to 317,600 barrels per day. There are 42 gallons in a barrel of oil.

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