At about 3:15 p.m Dec. 27, 2008, due to a production line failure at a Greka Energy facility, according to Santa Barbara County fire officials,an estimated 2,000 gallons of produced water and 600 gallons of crude oil spread over Palmer Road.

The oil and water spilled from an above-ground vent after an 8-inch underground production line failed, said fire Capt. Eli Iskow.

The flow was stemmed 90 minutes after the spill was reported, but facility employees were able to divert the liquid away from the seasonal creek by the road, Iskow said.

Palmer Road was closed from Highway 101 to Dominion Road by the CHP, and was expected to remain closed for an undetermined amount of time while Greka and county public works crews clean the road.

The faulty production line at Greka's Bell Lease was isolated and shut down by 6 p.m., according to Iskow.

Date: Dec. 31, 2008