Well Spewing Oil Near Van Hook - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Well Spewing Oil Near Van Hook

The blowout of an active oil well east of New Town is spewing oil into the air near Lake Sakakawea. A Slawson Exploration official says the rig failed between 6pm and 7pm Wednesday just east of Van Hook.

The official says there's no way to estimate the amount of oil being spilled, adding that determination will come after the leak is stopped.  A firm specializing in oil well leaks is working on the problem.

State agencies including the North Dakota Health Department have representatives on the scene. The Slawson official says his firm has built three barriers between the well and the lake, about a half mile to the south.  A southeast wind has been carrying the mist that is shooting from the well to the northwest, away from the water.  But officials are monitoring liquid oil that is also spilling, trying to keep it from reaching the Missouri River.

Oil continues to mist out from an oil well site near Lake Sakakawea this afternoon.