- Title: FRANCE: Pipeline leaks crude oil in southern France
- Date: 8th August 2009
- Summary: SAINT MARTIN DE CRAU, FRANCE (AUGUST 7, 2009) (REUTERS) SIGN AT ENTRANCE OF SITE OF INCIDENT WITH LETTERS READING 'WARNING, PETROL!' EMERGENCY VEHICLES NEAR SITE, GROUP OF FIREFIGHTERS FIREFIGHTER PUTTING GAS MASK BEFORE GOING ON SITE FIREFIGHTER TALKING TO EMERGENCY STAFF (SOUNDBITE) (French) CAPTAIN, REGIONAL FIRE BRIGADE, FREDERIC VAUCOULEUR, SAYING: ''Hydrocarbon
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA2C9E87S2ZLXAZSIFX1RIATOP4
- Story Text: A leak in a pipeline linking the South of France with Germany on Friday (August 7) caused thousands of cubic metres of crude oil to spill onto fields in southern France.
The fire department said about two hectares of fields close to the town of Saint-Martin-de-Crau, in the Camargue region had been polluted by crude.
Between 2,000 and 3,000 cube meters of crude oil leaked, the fire department said.
The incident, which was being investigated, took place at 7.57a.m. (0557 GMT) and as soon as it was detected a 20-km stretch of pipeline was shut off, the Societe du Pipeline Sud-Europeen (SPSE) which was operating the pipeline indicated.
The regional fire brigade and the SPSE established a secure perimeter soon after the incident, saying the emissions of fumes from the site represented a hazard.
Captain Frederic Vaucouleur from the regional fire brigade emergency rescue team said huge resources were needed to bring the situation under control.
''Some hydrocarbons spilled into a natural environment, so we organised foam delivery and big water carriers because we are in the Plain of Crau and we don't have a lot of water so we set up huge resources to face the problem,'' Vaucouleur said.
The French authorities said the incident had no consequence for the quality of drinking water while the SPSE said there should be little or no impact on the environment.
''The oil spill will not extend further, we are currently recuperating the crude oil, and the groundwater has not been touched. There is no problem with the locals, because they are so far away and so, the neighbourhood is not affected, and there is no river so it's impossible to tell you here and now that's it's a cause of concern for the environment,'' Francois Trabucco, SPSE deputy technical director said.
The fire brigade and the SPSE started a clean up operation immediately. The SPSE however could not say how long the operation would last.
Too dry to be used in the summer, the land is being used as pasture in the winter, local residents told the Reuters cameraman at the scene.
The SPSE supplies refineries and a petrochemical plant located in France, Switzerland and Germany along the inland axis from Fos-sur-Mer to Karlsruhe (769 km or 477 miles), the SPSE website said.
The present level of transport, approximately 23 million metric tons per year, represents more than 30% of the crude oil pipeline transport in Europe in "ton.kilometers", the SPSE website also said.
The SPSE said deliveries will not be affected by the incident as parallel pipelines can be used.
On its website, SPSE lists shareholders including France's Total, U.S. firm ExxonMobil and Britain's BP. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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