Report: Bakken crude same as other crude oil

   Bakken crude isn’t more dangerous for rail transport than any other light, sweet crude oils, according to a recent study commissioned by the North Dakota Petroleum Council.
   The report found that Bakken crude characteristics are all within DOT III railcar specifications and that Bakken crude is properly categorized as a Hazard Class 3 Flammable Liquid that belongs in Packing Group I or II.
   In January, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration found that Bakken crude may be more flammable than traditional crude.
   “This is the third independent study to confirm that Bakken crude does not significantly differ from other crude oils and poses no greater risks than other flammable liquids authorized for rail transport,” said Kari Cutting, vice president of the NDPC.
   Turner, Mason & Company completed the report at the behest of the NDPC by completing several tests of 15 well sites and seven rail-loading facilities in the Bakken region over a month-long period. The firm also compared the quality of crude upon loading and unloading, finding no significant changes brought on by a 1,500-mile transit.
   “Since Bakken crude is no more dangerous than other products moved by rail, accident prevention efforts focused track maintenance, staff training, and train speeds will be the key to improving safety,” Cutting said.
   This month, DOT ordered that railroads must notify local authorities when planning to transport crude through their towns. In 2013, Class I railroads transported 407,642 carloads of crude oil, a 74-percent, year-over-year increase, according to the Association of American Railroads.