By Russell Gold
The federal government said only three companies have
voluntarily turned over data on the physical characteristics of
Bakken crude oil from North Dakota, despite requests for this
information dating back to January.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said Friday that Exxon
Mobil Corp., Continental Resources Inc. and Savage Services Corp.
had shared testing data, but none of the many other producers or
shippers active in the area had done so.
The government is seeking data on the crude after a series of
railroad accidents in which oil exploded, including one in July in
Quebec that left more than 40 people dead. Historically, crude
hasn't erupted into fireballs, raising questions about the
composition of the oil from the Bakken.
In January, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the oil
industry had agreed to share testing data about the flammability
and combustibility of Bakken crude, but since then the government
and industry have disagreed over what was promised. The amount of
oil moving by rail rather than pipeline has soared in recent
years.
Write to Russell Gold at russell.gold@wsj.com
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