Exxon Soaks Up Recent Oil Spill With Cash

By Tyler Crowe and Aimee Duffy – Apr 25, 2013 at 5:29PM

NYSE: XOM

ExxonMobil

Market Cap

$481B

Today's Change

(-2.27%) -$2.75

Current Price

$118.58

Price as of April 26, 2024, 3:00 p.m. ET

Let's get this thing cleaned up really fast before it garners too much media attention.

The recent Pegasus Pipeline spill in Arkansas has put the energy sector on the edge a little, and so ExxonMobil (XOM -2.27%) is trying hard to make this story go away by offering compensation to residents of the area where the spill took place. With the fate of TransCanada's (TRP 0.46%) pipeline still hanging in the balance, the energy industry wants this story to go away, fast.

Obviously, stories like this bring up the safety and reliability of America's pipeline system. But there are also consequences to pipeline alternatives such as rail. From last month's oil sands rail spill in Minnesota to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe explosion in 2008, rail poses some risks as well. In this video, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe talks to Aimee Duffy about some of the problems with America's current pipeline system and the risks for alternative transportation of oil.

Fool contributors Aimee Duffy and Tyler Crowe have no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow them both on Twitter, @TMFDuffy and @TylerCroweFool, respectively.

The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.