In response to high-profile accidents in 2013-2014 involving movement of crude by rail , the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy (DOE/FE), the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT/PHMSA), and Transport Canada, Transport of Dangerous Goods Directorate (TC/TDG) commissioned a research study by Sandia National Laboratories  (Sandia) to investigate the physical, chemical, and combustion properties of crude oils, and in particular the so-called “tight oils,” like Bakken crude, that comprised the majority of crude oil rail shipments in the U.S. at the time.

The full report is available now for download on DOE's website.