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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An improperly-closed storage tank caused around 14,000 litres of methanol to spill at an oil and gas development lease site in Cameron Hills late last month. On March 21, Paramount Resources Ltd. reported the spill at its battery site H-03.

Lloyd Doyle, operating officer for Paramount's Northern region, said the substance drained from a storage tank that was not properly closed.

He explained a tank containing the substance had valve on it, with a hose leading out that also had a valve on the end. He said an operator was taking some methanol out of the tank and "he just closed the valve on the hose and not the one on the tank."

Doyle said a storm blew in, flapping the hung-up hose around, which may have dislodged the end valve.

"A vacuum truck was brought in and vacuumed up virtually all the methanol," he said.

Doyle said the spill was contained to the lease site - an area with predominately clay soil with no lakes or creeks around it.

Methanol is used in the production of oil and gas and is highly flammable and toxic. Ingestion of small amounts can cause blindness, or even death, while inhalation of the substance is less toxic.

"It has a very short life before it biodegrades and before it evaporates into the atmosphere," said Doyle. "No substance got into water ways or anything like that. It was all contained on the lease. So there are no anticipated environmental effects."

The National Energy Board is the regulatory agency responsible for inspecting the spill. Carole Leger-Kubeczek, spokesperson for the board, said the company followed procedure, responded to the spill quickly and did what they had to do.

"They vacuumed the spillage and also they scraped the soil and have put it in enviro-bins, that have been shipped to Alberta," she said.

The company will also conduct soil samples this summer to ensure there is no further contamination

The site is located near the NWT-Alberta border, south of Kakisa.