USGS Minnesota Water Science Center

Aerial view of pipeline break, north and south oil pools, spray zone, and remediation efforts.

A labeled aerial view view of the pipeline break, spray zone, drainage path, and remediation efforts.

Aerial (close-up) view of the pipeline break, trench, and remediation efforts at the north pool.

Distant view of the spill site from the air.

Closer view.

A trench was dug to remove the crude oil from where it pooled at what we call the "north oil pool." This is a view of exposed pipelines in this trench; the repaired section of pipeline that ruptured is visible in the right-center portion of this picture.

Exposed pipelines showing a pipeline employee in the trench.

The 34-inch diameter pipeline ruptured along a seam weld and was repaired soon after the spill occurred.

This is a schematic diagram of the ruptured pipeline and a view of the repaired section of pipeline. The crude oil sprayed from the rupture site to the west into an area we call the "spray zone."

This is a picture of oil-covered vegetation in the spray zone following the spill.

Spray zone.

A pipeline company employee pumping the oil from the bottom of a trench at the north pool.

Crude oil can been seen seeping in along the side and bottom of a trench in this picture.

Oil-saturated sand can clearly be seen in the wall of the trench in this picture. Immediately following the spill, crude oil moved overland from the "spray zone" through low-lying areas and toward a wetland near what we now call the "south oil pool."