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Husky Energy Inc.’s claim that it has recovered 88 per cent of the crude oil released when one of its pipelines failed two months ago in Saskatchewan is “surprising” given the circumstances, according to a hydrogeologist familiar with the spill.

“I think a lot more oil escaped than they’re letting on, and I think a lot of it is going to end up at the bottom, in the sediments, and that’s going to be a long-term problem,” said Ricardo Segovia of the Santa Fe, New Mexico non-profit E-Tech International.

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Interested groups, including Idle No More, contracted E-Tech International to test sediment samples pulled from the North Saskatchewan River after the July 20 spill, which Husky said released up to 250,000 litres of oil and condensate.

Segovia said his conclusion is based on his experience, as well as Husky’s refusal to say exactly how big the spill was and a 14-hour delay between when a pipeline problem was detected and the leak isolated — a timeline Husky disputes.