"Work crews for BP Plc were clearing contaminated snow on Thursday on Alaska's North Slope after a Prudhoe Bay well line ruptured, spraying a 34-acre area with crude oil and natural gas.

Just how much liquid escaped from the line remains under investigation by BP and Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation.

It remains unclear whether the leak, detected earlier this week, is connected to a decline in North Slope oil production. BP did not return emails seeking comment."
 
Steven Quinn reports for Reuters May 2, 2014. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Broken Pipe Sprays Oily Plume Across Snowy Tundra At Prudhoe Bay" (Alaska Dispatch) [3]