Enbridge probes 2010 oil spill in Canada

CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Canadian pipeline company Enbridge aims to investigate the site of an oil spill discovered in 2010 in the Northwest Territories.

Enbridge said it planned seven "investigative digs" beginning next month near the site of an oil spill discovered in May.

"Enbridge will replace and remove the previously repaired pipe for further analysis, initiate reclamation work on site and haul the remaining stored contaminated soils to a licensed disposal facility," the company said in a statement.

Enbridge last year said initially four barrels of sweet crude oil spilled from a ruptured pipeline that can carry as much as 39,400 barrels of oil per day. When it notified the Canadian government of the accident in June, however, it indicated a spill volume of as much as 1,500 barrels, The Vancouver Sun reports.

The newspaper notes Enbridge statements regarding the investigative digs are the company's first public comments on the accident.

"Discussions have been held with the leadership of the communities who are in proximity to our pipeline about the program," the company's statement read.

The Canadian government backed plans by Enbridge to build its Northern Gateway pipeline to carry oil from tar sands projects in Alberta province. Opponents to the pipeline expressed concern over the environmental threats posed by Alberta crude.