US firefighters have tackled a pipeline oil spill near Los Angeles.
Initial reports suggested as much as 5,000 barrels of crude had spilled but Ventura County fire department said it was closer to 700 barrels.
The leak was spotted about 5:30am local time in a pipeline in Hall Canyon.
With 42 gallons per US barrel, it is estimated around 29,400 gallons of crude may have been released.
The US Office of Spill Prevention and Response said investigators were on their way to the site to assess the spill.
According to the Los Angeles Times, authorities feared the oil could flow out near the beach at San Jon Road and the 101 Freeway. But the leak was farther inland at Hall Canyon on the other side of the beachside community and didn’t reach a second pipeline that would have pumped it out toward the ocean, said a Ventura County fire fighter.
The LA times reported the oil belongs to Aera Energy and was flowing through a pipeline owned by Crimson Pipeline, Lindbery said. Crimson Pipeline operates in California and Louisiana. The oil company owns 1,000 miles of pipelines in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Kern and in some Northern California counties, according to its website.
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