Background
On 22nd May 2025, , a section of the 358km Cartagena-Puertollano pipeline pipe running from the crude oil terminal in Cartagena to the Puertollano refinery, began leaking oil onto an almond farm in a rural area near Murcia, in Spain. A large volume of oil was reported to have leaked onto an almond farm in a rural area near Murcia, in Spain. The owner of the land reported the incident to emergency services, along with the operator of the pipe, to assist in the management of the oil spill to reduce the impact on the local environment.
Alongside the crude pipeline, there is a second pipe carrying refined product, and according to the local police investigation, it was the target of an illegal tapping attempt. During which, the perpetrators mistakenly tapped into the crude oil pipe, causing approximately 2000 m² of land to be contaminated and around 500 almond trees to be affected by the spill.
Response activation
Local emergency services were first on the scene to locate the cause of the spill and assess the damage to the farmland. They notified key stakeholders and involved other organisations, including environmental services and the Spanish provider of spill products , to assist with the clean-up operation.
The pipeline operators contacted us to provide a team of technical advisors as per their membership agreement, which offers them tailored advice and operational support from our team of experts to assist for five days during the incident.
Representatives from the company responsible for the pipeline expressed concern about potential impacts to the area, including:
- Expansion of the farmland area affected by the oil;
- Agricultural damage in the immediate vicinity;
- Groundwater contamination;
- River contamination (the Quipar River is located less than 2 km from the source).
The reason for OSRL’s involvement
Our involvement in the response efforts stemmed from the company responsible for the pipeline as they are one of our members. They reached out to us for support in the initial stages of the incident, requesting advice and technical assistance as the potential environmental impact of the spill became increasingly concerning.
Although spills of this nature had occurred in the region before, our member had lacked the operational familiarity to manage a large spill effectively. As a member, they were entitled to access OSRL’s technical advisory support through the 5 x 5 service, which they accepted. Their primary objective was to ensure their response actions aligned with best practice, seeking confirmation that the procedures they were implementing were appropriate and effective for the situation at hand.
Scope of work
As part of the mobilisation, the primary goal was to ensure that all response operations were conducted safely, with a strong focus on safeguarding the client, our own personnel and the contractors involved in the field. Once safety protocols were confirmed to be in place, the team turned their attention to identifying the most appropriate response strategies, prioritising solutions that were not only cost-effective and time-efficient but also environmentally sound.
A key aspect of the work involved assessing the status of ongoing operations and understanding the potential extent of the spill’s impact. The initial concern was for the potential impact on a nearby river, located approximately two kilometres from the source, which was identified as a sensitive area that could require protection. There was also a concern about the potential vertical migration of oil, which poses a risk to the groundwater.
In response, the team prioritised the identification of risks to these environmentally sensitive areas, including evaluating the effectiveness of the client’s initial response, and advising on ways to improve the operation.
Main goals and priorities upon mobilisation:
- Ensure the safety of all personnel involved in the operation, including the client and contractors.
- Verify that all response activities were being conducted in a safe and controlled manner.
- Develop and advise on response strategies that were:
- Cost-effective
- Time-efficient
- Protective of the environment and human health
- Prioritise the identification of risks to environmentally sensitive areas, such as:
- A river located approximately 2 km from the source
- Potential risks to underground water due to vertical oil migration
- Provide strategic guidance to ensure the client’s actions aligned with good practice.
- Help reduce unnecessary waste and additional costs by validating or adjusting operational approaches.
Unique challenges of this particular spill
This mobilisation presented a unique set of challenges that shaped the scope of work and priorities. Inland incidents of this nature are less common for OSRL, and the remote location, with limited infrastructure and poor access roads, intensified operational difficulties. Heavy rainfall the night of the spill made access for trucks and personnel extremely difficult.
One of the initial challenges was communication, as many personnel on-site had limited English proficiency; it became apparent that Spanish language skills were essential for effective coordination. Additionally, intense pressure from the media and environmental organisations created a sense of urgency to act quickly and demonstrate visible progress. Security improvements were detected, including access control to the work area, which helped going forward.
The technical advisors’ first priority was to implement proper safety protocols, ensuring that all personnel wore appropriate PPE, gas monitoring systems were in place, and exclusion zones were respected. They also worked to reduce unnecessary exposure by limiting access to hazardous areas to only those with an operational need. A key recommendation was to shift away from heavy use of sorbents, which risked generating significant volumes of waste, and to instead optimise the use of vacuum trucks. This advice contributed to a rapid and effective recovery of oil from both the source and secondary accumulation pools downslope. Improvements to access roads using crushed rock allowed vehicles to reach these pools and continue operations through the night.
Results
By the time all technical advisors were on-site the following morning, a full walkaround assessment was conducted, and it was concluded that the operations were appropriate, providing further recommendations around waste management and safety. Through our guidance, we helped streamline the operation, reduce unnecessary costs, and limit environmental impact.
Key takeaways from this spill
This incident highlighted several critical takeaways for future inland spill responses.
Communication
Many activities fell to the emergency leader, and it was sometimes challenging to communicate with him due to the lack of coverage in the area during the first day. From the second day onwards, there was a satellite communication system set up that was designed to solve the coverage problems and allow regular meetings to be held; however, the Starlink system that was implemented was not as effective as we had hoped it would be. The chain of command was established, but an area for improvement would have been to communicate the lead in command clearly and to increase the team under the emergency leader.
Safety
Ensuring safety remained the top priority throughout the operation, which was reinforced by an incident involving oil coming into contact with a contractor despite full PPE. This situation demonstrates the value of PPE and having an on-site medical team ready to respond.
Language barriers
The multilingual environment also underscored the value of speaking the local language, as this improved both communication and trust with local responders.
External pressures
Pressure from the media, landowners, and environmental groups led to hasty decisions, such as the overuse of sorbents, which risked unnecessary costs and waste generation. The OSRL team helped the client recalibrate their approach, prioritising targeted vacuum recovery and efficient use of resources. Media attention was intense, with coverage beginning before OSRL had even been contacted, highlighting the need for early site control and a clear media strategy.
Physical and mental demands
Finally, the operation's physical and mental demands reminded us of the importance of rest and preparation, reinforcing that effective performance, especially in high-pressure environments, requires not just technical skill but also wellbeing management.
Why choose OSRL
This inland spill case study demonstrates the value OSRL brings to complex and high-pressure incidents, particularly in unfamiliar or challenging environments. Whilst the client’s response actions were commendable, the support from OSRL, along with local emergency services and other oil spill response organisations, helped to provide clarity and structure, swiftly identifying key decision-makers, establishing safety protocols, and helping the client prioritise actions that balanced operational effectiveness with environmental responsibility. The team’s ability to rapidly mobilise, communicate across language barriers, and navigate stakeholder pressure ensured that the response was efficient, safe, and aligned with best practice.
Our presence enabled the client to avoid unnecessary costs and waste generation by advising against excessive use of sorbents and shifting the focus towards targeted vacuum recovery. Our technical expertise helped improve site access, reduce the risk of secondary contamination, and enhance the quality of the clean-up.
Our experience in managing public and stakeholder expectations added significant value, ensuring the response was not only operationally sound but also reputationally protected.
Ultimately, this highlights our ability to deliver rapid, professional support that improves safety, reduces environmental impact, enhances decision-making, and strengthens community and media engagement. For organisations facing the unexpected, OSRL is a trusted partner capable of turning complex spill situations into well-managed, outcome-driven responses.
