Cleanup begins after tank battery explosion in western North Dakota

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) — The cleanup process in west-central North Dakota after a tank battery explosion and fire.

The explosion was reported Monday night at a produced water storage site about 15 miles east of Watford City.

North Dakota Highway Patrol closed a portion of Highway 23 as crews worked to control the fire but opened later Tuesday.

The state Department of Mineral Resources says about 4,000 gallons of produced water were released. First responders build dikes around the site to contain as much pollution as they could.

A North Dakota Oil and Gas inspector will oversee cleanup.