Lightening Causes Spills At ND Oil Fields

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — State regulators say lightning strikes have caused half a dozen fires in the western North Dakota oil patch in recent months, leading to spills of oil and saltwater.

The Forum newspaper says five of the fires occurred at saltwater disposal wells and one happened at an oil well. Reports from the state Oil and Gas Division show that the spills ranged from less than a barrel to about 400 barrels. A barrel holds 42 gallons.

The spills were as close as 200 feet from a water source and half a mile from a residence, but Department of Mineral Resources spokeswoman Alison Ritter says all of the spills were confined to the well sites.