Enbridge oil leaked through 1.5-metre tear

Officials say a ruptured section of pipeline that spewed oil into a southern Michigan river had a lengthwise rip that likely is less than 1.5 metres long.

The Environmental Protection Agency and pipeline company Enbridge Inc. said Saturday the section was removed a day earlier in Calhoun County and will be shipped to a National Transportation Safety Board lab in Washington, D.C.

Enbridge executive vice-president Steve Wuori said officials on the scene can't tell from looking at the pipeline what led to the failure.

Enbridge, which is based in Calgary,reported the spill July 26.

The EPA says more than 3.8 million litres of oil have flowed into the Kalamazoo River and other waterways.

The company estimates the total at 3.1 million litres.

The pipeline runs between Griffith, Ind., and Sarnia, Ont.

Meanwhile, Enbridge is finalizing the purchase of two homes in the area.

Enbridge chief executive Patrick Daniel said Sunday the company is days away from buying the Calhoun County homes.

The Canadian company recently offered to buy up to 200 homes in the 48-kilometre zone to assure homeowners and keep speculators out.