Part of pipeline in Husky oil spill in Saskatchewan sent for testing

Part of the pipeline involved in the Husky Energy oil spill into the North Saskatchewan River has been taken for testing.

Laurie Pushor, deputy minister of the economy in Saskatchewan, says provincial officials supervised as the line was purged, cut and taped and the segment in question removed.

Pushor says it has been taken to a third−party lab for analysis.

The pipeline leak detected on July 21 spilled up to 250,000 litres of oil mixed with a lighter hydrocarbon into the river near Maidstone.

Pushor won’t speculate on what caused the rupture, saying the province will wait for the investigation to be completed.

Meanwhile, a report released today says hydrocarbons at levels higher than guidelines set for freshwater aquatic life have been found in at least 37 water samples taken after the spill.