A pipeline owned by Nexen Energy ULC has spilled about 31,500 barrels of oil “emulsion” in northern Alberta, the province’s energy watchdog says.

In the afternoon of July 15, an emulsion leak from a pipeline was discovered within Nexen’s Long Lake operations.

However, Wednesday’s oil sands emulsion spill has detracted from the success of the GHG reduction for many.

“They are undertaking a fuller assessment of the site and will initiate an investigation, and working with the company to ensure safety and environmental requirements are met”, Murchland said. Nexen said that its emergency response plan had been activated with personnel onsite who were able to stabilize the leak.

The company told the AER that “the release is mainly isolated to the pipeline right of way which includes muskeg”, the regulatory agency said in a statement.

“We need to stop new pipeline projects before they’re built and focus on building renewable sources of energy that are sustainable and won’t threaten communities, our environment, and the planet”, said Mike Hudema, with Greenpeace’s Climate and Energy team, in a statement.

The news bureau reported that there have been no reports of harm to the public or wildlife, and that regulators will require Nexen to implement a wildlife protection plan along the pipeline route.

Greenpeace Canada said Thursday the spill is “a good reminder that Alberta has a long way to go to address its pipeline problems”.

Nexen has contained the spill in an area of about 40 metres by 400 metres and started cleanup, the AER said. The Alberta Energy Regulator said it did not contaminate any water bodies.

Nearly half a million litres of sour crude oil leaked into a creek that flows into the Red Deer River located about 100 kilometres north of Calgary near the community of Sundre.