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Published April 13, 2012, 11:14 AM

Small ND oil spill sprays about 10 acres of land

An oil well problem caused a mist of oil to spray over about 10 acres of land in southwestern North Dakota.

SOUTH HEART, N.D. (AP) — An oil well problem caused a mist of oil to spray over about 10 acres of land in southwestern North Dakota.

The accident happened near a Fidelity Oil and Exploration well about five miles northwest of South Heart in Stark County.

A pressure problem caused a plume of oil and water to shoot up into the air. A strong wind then carried it onto a nearby field.

North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources director Lynn Helms says the accident happened Wednesday.

Helms says the oil probably wouldn't have spread beyond the well site if it hadn't been for the gusty wind.

Fidelity spokesman Tim Rasmussen says the company is cleaning up the spill. He says it involved less than 100 gallons of oil and water.

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