Source: pipe-up.net

Sticky bitumen, which has oozed to the surface for more than six months, "has entered local non-saline groundwater aquifers, likely contaminating the groundwater," says the 15-page enforcement order issued by Alberta Environment October 21st. The enforcement order gives the company permission to drill more wells this winter to test groundwater at the four leak sites and attempt to stop the flow of bitumen moving up through fissures in the rock to the surface.

The new order confirms a major problem, groundwater contamination, and should raise a red flag about CNRL's high-pressure steam process known as fracking, for extracting bitumen, New Democrat environment critic Rachel Notley told the Edmonton Journal.

"A decade after that process started, Alberta still has no rules on using it — such as how much pressure is safe, and under what geological conditions should it be used," said Notley, adding that the company is still allowed to use high-pressure steam one kilometre from the small lake even when the cause or solution for the leak is unknown.

In July, Canadian Natural Resources said a mechanical failure at an old well was behind bitumen seepage at its project on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range.