The Trans Canada Keystone Pipeline System, seen here in Swanton, Neb., transports synthetic crude oil and diluted bitumen from the Athabasca oil sands region in northeastern Alberta, Canada to multiple destinations in the United States. There are millions of miles of pipelines globally that transport crude and refined petroleum; fuels such as oil, natural gas and biofuels; and other fluids including sewage, slurry, water, beer, hot water or steam. (Photo credit: shannonpatric17/Wikipedia Commons)

Lisa Harris is an executive vice president and co-head of Oil & Gas within the Natural Resources Practice at CAC Specialty. For more than two decades, Harris has managed energy-industry clients worldwide, which involves negotiating complex insurance and risk management programs for an array of “midstream” energy companies.

It follows that the most recent Keystone Pipeline spill snagged Harris’ attention. The pipeline system spanning the U.S. and Canada shut down in early April after a rupture was discovered in North Dakota, “halting the flow of thousands of gallons of crude oil,” according to news reports. Environmentalists say this was just the latest in roughly two-dozen Keystone spills since the pipeline was commissioned in 2010.

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Elana Ashanti Jefferson

Elana Ashanti Jefferson is ALM PropertyCasualty360's Editor in Chief. She is a veteran journalist and communications professional. Reach her by sending an e-mail to [email protected].