Living on the Line, Marshall, MI

Bitumen is a particularly difficult form of oil.
One of the planet’s largest petroleum resources, it’s the texture of peanut butter. Too thick to be pumped, Bitumen is diluted with benzene. Pipeline pressure is greatly increased. Low cost oil flows to refineries. And the gas pumps.
It’s a risky gamble. Diluted Bitumen (dilbit) spilled over water can be almost impossible to remedy. The benzene evaporates and the oil sinks. Traditional clean-up methods can make the problem worse.
Three and a half years after Line 6B ruptured near Marshall Michigan, Enbridge Energy is still dredging.
Scott Sines, ©The Green Rocket News