TC Energy responding to Keystone Pipeline leak in Washington County

WASHINGTON COUNTY, KS — TC Energy, the Canada-based energy company, is working to repair the Keystone Pipeline which is leaking oil into a creek in northern Kansas. 

In a release issued Thursday, the company says the Pipeline system was shut down Wednesday night as crews responded to a "confirmed release" of oil into a creek in Washington County, Kansas about 20 miles south of Steele City, Neb. 

"Pursuant to our incident protocols, an emergency shutdown and response was initiated at approximately 8 p.m. CT, on Dec. 7, 2022, after alarms and a detected pressure drop in the system. The affected segment has been isolated, and booms deployed to control downstream migration of the release. The system remains shutdown as our crews actively respond and work to contain and recover the oil," the company said in a release.

TC Energy says they are working with customers and regulators in response to the spill. They say their primary focus in the health and safety of onsite staff and personnel, surrounding communities and mitigating risk to the environment.

Thursday afternoon, the company updated their statement to say they are continuing to work on the leak, which they are calling the "Milepost 14 Incident."

As of 5 p.m. Thursday the the system was still shutdown as crews work to contain and recover the oil. The estimated release was about 14,000 barrels, according to TC Energy.