Oil prices, opposition to TransCanada surge in US after Keystone oil spill

The spill gave further ammunition to environmental groups and other US opponents of another pipeline the company has proposed, the long-delayed Keystone XL

A major oil spill on the Keystone pipeline in South Dakota helped push US crude prices higher on Friday, while fueling opposition to another pipeline project by owner TransCanada Corp that faces a crunch decision in Nebraska next week.

The climb in US crude futures and slide in Canadian heavy crude prices, as well as TransCanada Corp shares, came the day after the 5,000 barrel spill, tied for this year's largest pipeline leak in the United States.

No date has been set for reopening Keystone, TransCanada said, adding that a media report that had identified a restart date was incorrect.

The spill gave