U.S. Transportation Dept. Says Energy Companies Not Sharing Test Data on Bakken Oil

By Russell Gold 

The federal government said only three companies have voluntarily turned over data on the physical characteristics of Bakken crude oil from North Dakota, despite requests for this information dating back to January.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said Friday that Exxon Mobil Corp., Continental Resources Inc. and Savage Services Corp. had shared testing data, but none of the many other producers or shippers active in the area had done so.

The government is seeking data on the crude after a series of railroad accidents in which oil exploded, including one in July in Quebec that left more than 40 people dead. Historically, crude hasn't erupted into fireballs, raising questions about the composition of the oil from the Bakken.

In January, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the oil industry had agreed to share testing data about the flammability and combustibility of Bakken crude, but since then the government and industry have disagreed over what was promised. The amount of oil moving by rail rather than pipeline has soared in recent years.

Write to Russell Gold at [e-mail]

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires