Pengrowth Energy fined $250K over Alberta oil pipeline breach

A Calgary-based company has been fined $250,000over a pipeline breach that spilled 537,000 litres of oil emulsion in northern Alberta over 48 days.

The Alberta Energy Regulator says Pengrowth Energy Corporation failed to properly detect, report and deal with the spill near Red Earth Creek.

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The regulator says the mixture of oil and oilwell salt water leaked between Dec. 1, 2013and Jan. 18, 2014, before the company became aware of the spill.

Pengrowth has been fined $250,000 for breaching Alberta environment and public lands laws.

Rob Borth, the regulator's director of enforcement, says in a report that Pengrowth lacked knowledge, training and management oversight of the pipeline.

He says those shortcomings included being able to detect leaks.