Second oil spill reported in Montana

A new oil spill has been reported in northwestern Montana, just 350 miles from a earlier leak into the Yellowstone River.

The spill went unnoticed for up to a month, reports claim, before a neighbouring landowner highlighted the issue last week, the Associated Press reported.

It is thought the leak is producing around ten to 15 barrels of oil a day, much less than the amount of oil spilt into the Yellowstone River.

Andy Pierce, vice president of oil industry firm FX Energy, the parent company of FX Drilling which owned the oil field in which the spill occurred, said that it is likely the oil escaped from a broken pipe following flooding in the area.

"You get flow line leaks from time to time, but they generally get spotted right away," Pierce said.

"The reason this went on as long as it did is because the surface is tough to get around on right now."

It is estimated that 1,000 barrels of oil escaped into the Yellowstone River as a result of an earlier leak 20 miles upstream of Billings, Montana, with the cleanup operation now underway.