Chevron Brasil 'takes full responsibility' for Frade area oil seep
Nov. 21, 2011
Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda continues working with Brazilian authorities to contain, reduce, and eliminate the remaining surface oil sheen in the Frade field area.
Offshore staff
SAN RAMON, California – Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda continues working with Brazilian authorities to contain, reduce, and eliminate the remaining surface oil sheen in the Frade field area.
Chevron estimates the remaining sheet to be 18 bbl or less.
Chevron’s country manager, George Buck, said that Chevron takes “full responsibility for this incident” and that the company “is committed to deploying resources until the sheen can no longer be detected.”
Regarding Chevron s preliminary assessment of the incident, Buck said, “we were drilling toward a targeted reservoir and encountered an unexpected pressure spike or ‘kick’. We believe the kick caused fluid to move into the wellbore and increased pressure opened a segment of the wellbore. Fluid then escaped to reach thin fissures and migrate to the ocean floor. The well was safely shut in, following standard operating procedures.”
