Tag: Chevron

More than 80 percent smaller than it was four days ago The size of the oil slick at a well operated by U.S.-based Chevron Corp. off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state is more than 80 percent smaller than it was four days ago, said Brazil's National Petroleum Agency Tuesday.The agency said in a statement that the slick at the water's surface covered 0.78 square miles (two square kilometers), compared to the 4.63 square miles (12 square kilometers) registered on Nov. 18.The agency also said the oil slick continues moving away from Brazil's coastline.Despite the announcement, Rio de Janeiro state's Environment Secretary Carlos Minc told reporters that in two weeks to a month the oil could reach beaches west of the city of Rio that are popular with tourists.He said two-thirds of the leaked oil has still not risen to the surface and will "appear on the beaches of Angra dos Reis and Arraial do Cabo." These beaches are extremely popular with tourists.The agency has said more than 110,000 gallons (416,300 liters) of crude oil may have reached the ocean floor since the leak began Nov. 7. Chevron said in a statement Tuesday that its estimate is slightly lower ...

Ships are working to disperse the slick 120km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro Brazilian police are investigating an oil spill in an offshore field operated by the US company Chevron.Ships are working to disperse the slick 120km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state.The oil is leaking from a well in the Frade oil project, 370km off the Brazilian coast. Chevron says they have plugged the oil well, but the Brazilian government and police disagree.Edison Lobao, Brazil's energy minister, has said the company will be "severely punished" if it is found to have failed in its environmental responsibilities.In recent years Brazil has discovered huge oil reserves in the Atlantic.Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo reports from Rio de Janeiro.

Chevron could face "five or six" other fines of the same amount if more infractions are found Brazil's environmental agency said Monday it will fine Chevron nearly $28 million for a continuing oil spill off the Rio de Janeiro coast, and the company could face several more similar fines in the coming days.The agency said through its press office that it will fine the oil company the maximum 50 million reals allowed under current Brazilian law.Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira said at a press conference in Brasilia, however, that as an investigation into the leak continues, Chevron could face "five or six" other fines of the same amount if more infractions are found.Rio de Janeiro state's environment secretary, Carlos Minc, said the national government will also ask Chevron to pay for damages caused by the Atlantic spill."We believe the accident could've been avoided. There was an environmental crime," Minc told Globo TV and other Brazilian media. "They hid information and their emergency team took almost 10 days to start acting."Teixeira and other officials said Chevron hid information about the extent of the spill from the Brazilian government, took far too long to begin clean-up operations and didn't have the proper equipment ...

Oil spill occurred because Chevron underestimated the pressure in an underwater reservoir An ongoing oil spill off the Brazilian coast occurred because Chevron underestimated the pressure in an underwater reservoir, the head of the company's Brazil operations said Sunday.George Buck, chief operating officer for the Brazilian division of the San Ramon, California-based company, told foreign journalists that Chevron "takes full responsibility for this incident," and that "any oil on the surface of the ocean is unacceptable to Chevron."But Buck rejected accusations the company did not notify authorities quickly enough after the leak was detected and that it did not properly manage cleanup operations.Chevron was drilling an appraisal well about 230 miles (370 kilometers) off the northeastern coast of Rio de Janeiro when the leak began Nov. 7.The drilling fluid that is pumped down the center of the drill as it works, lubricating and stabilizing the pressure of the bore hole, was not heavy enough to counter the pressure coming from the oil reservoir, Buck said.That caused crude to rush upward and eventually escape through a breach in the bore hole and leak into the surrounding seabed.The oil then made its way to the ocean floor and has since leaked through ...

The oil spill once again calls into question the safety of drilling The Brazilian unit of U.S. oil company Chevron Corp. (CVX) is rushing equipment to find the cause of an oil leak at the offshore Frade field, but the spill is not related to a production well and output is continuing normally, a Chevron spokeswoman said in an interview Thursday."We don't yet know the cause of the spill, but we know for sure that it is not from a production well," the spokeswoman said.The oil spill will likely once again call into question the safety of drilling for oil and natural gas far offshore after last year's Macondo disaster in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Chevron became aware of an oil slick of an undetermined size between the Frade field, about 120 kilometers off the coast of Espirito Santos state, and the nearby Roncador field operated by Brazilian state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, the company said. The two fields are located in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil, where more than 90% of the country's crude oil is produced."This is not the same thing as Macondo," the spokeswoman said, adding that oil leaks from the seabed ...

24 "strict" conditions to protect marine environment The West Australian government has recommended 24 environmental conditions for Chevron's $25 billion dollar Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the state's northwest.Environment Minister Bill Marmion said the "strict" conditions would protect marine fauna like whales and turtles, require $13 million in environmental offsets and require the company to offset reservoir greenhouse gases which could reach 2.6 million tonnes a year."It also provides strict dredging conditions to limit the impact on coral reefs," he said."This means dredging must be immediately suspended if there is damage to coral outside defined zones."Mr Marmion said, in that event, dredging would only recommence when he was satisfied environmental values were protected.He said blasting at night would also be prohibited during humpback whale migration seasons.To limit greenhouse gas emissions, Mr Marmion said the company would need to offset reservoir carbon dioxide emissions, consistent with conditions applying to the Pluto and Gorgon LNG projects, operated by Woodside and Chevron, respectively.This condition would lapse once commonwealth greenhouse gas arrangements came into effect, he said.Mr Marmion said he would consult with other relevant ministers to obtain a final agreement on the conditions.Source: AAP

Firefighters extinguished the fire - any material released pose no health risk to public Four people have been killed in a major explosion at an oil refinery in south-west Wales. It is understood that two petrol tankers collided inside the Chevron plant in Pembroke Dock, Dyfed, on Thursday, killing both the drivers.One of the tankers was completely destroyed in the explosion, according to Mid and West Wales fire and rescue service.Chevron confirmed that the four people who died were contractors and said another worker was receiving treatment in hospital for serious injuries.Greg Hanggi, the refinery general manager, said: "This news is utterly devastating. The loss of our co-workers has come as a huge shock to us all. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to their families. We will ensure that all employees and contractors are fully supported throughout this difficult time."He added: "We will take every step possible to determine the series of events that led to this tragic incident and ensure that any lessons learnt from it will be integrated into the business and shared with our industry partners."Police said the blast appeared to be a "tragic industrial accident". Chief Superintendent Gwyn Thomas of Dyfed Powys police said ...