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Company reports two oil well fires, spills in western North Dakota

The Texas company Petro Harvester Operating reported fires at two separate oil field sites in Burke County, though a statement from the North Dakota Oil and Gas Division said the incidents appeared to be unrelated.

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BISMARCK — Two oil field sites operated by the same company caught fire in Burke County on Monday, Jan. 31, resulting in spills of oil and highly saturated salt water.

The incidents at sites operated by Petro Harvester Operating Co. LLC appear to be unrelated, but the causes of each will be investigated, the state's Oil and Gas Division said in a news release on Wednesday. Incident reports filed by the company did not provide any information on the cause of either fire.

The first fire occurred at an oil well site a few miles west of Portal, leading to spills of about 40,000 gallons of brine water and more than 48,000 gallons of oil.

Petro Harvester also reported a fire not far away at a well site north of Flaxton. That incident caused nearly 56,000 gallons of salt water to spill.

The company has shut in oil wells on both locations and secured the surrounding area. The spilled oil and saltwater were contained to the well pads.

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A state inspector has visited both locations and is monitoring the cleanup process.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Adam Willis, a Report for America corps member, at awillis@forumcomm.com.

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