This derailment is another situation where all the facts are not known.
The news media are trying to report on a subject of which they have little knowledge. Unlike some stories where they have a political ax to grind this one involves facts most reporters are unfamiliar with. For example did the oil explode or is it just burning?
There is a lot of media hype about oil train wrecks. Incidents like this one would not have attracted any interest just a few years ago.
Until the Keystone pipeline is built about a million barrels of oil a day will have to be transported by rail. Rail is more expensive and more dangerous than pipe. The oil must be transported because most drivers would find it inconvenient to drive to North Dakota every time the need a fill up.
I lived and worked in the oil patch in Louisiana and Texas. Pipelines run all over the place and seldom cause problems. The usual problem is caused by contractors digging into the pipeline with construction equipment. Crude oil pipelines seldom cause
long term damage if they leak, product pipelines(carrying gasoline and other refined products) are another matter.
The pipelines in Texas have to consider endangered species such as the Houston Toad and Atwater Prairie chicken but they have not hurt the environment. Similarly damage to aquifers are minimal because oil is lighter than water and floats. If spilled it can be cleaned up easily in most cases.
The oil coming from the Bakken area of north Dakota is different than the oil being shipped from Canada. The Canadian oil is very viscous and requires chemicals to thin it into a liquid or it must be kept at a higher temperature. The crude from North Dakota does not require this treatment.
What I want to know is what caused this accident and what can be done to prevent another one.
Douglas
The Keystone Pipeline has nothing to do with the trains carrying North Dakota Bakken crude. It is for carrying Canadian crude to refineries in Texas. Almost all of the oil from North Dakota is for refineries in the northeast. Until someone proposes building a pipeline from North Dakota to the northeast tank trains will remain the only method of transporting the oil.
Stuart
