A major oil company is on the hot seat after Brazil’s president ordered a “rigorous investigation” into a spill near an offshore field off Rio de Janeiro.
The Associated Press reports that Dilma Rousseff ordered the probe, to be conducted by the Mines and Energy Ministry, to determine if Chevron is responsible for the oil spill near one of its wells being drilled by its Brazilian subsidiary.
According to the news agency, the spill was detected on November 10 when the company said it was responding to oil seepage in the vicinity of the Chevron-operated Frade project off the northeast coast of Rio. The company had said that it estimated that the total amount of the sheen was between 400 and 600 barrels of oil.
Chevron said that it has closed a well in the area and that it has eight vessels working to control the spill. Top products from Impact Absorbent, including XSORB Oil Select Booms and FiberDuck Bonded Heavyweight Pads can absorb oil that is floating on water and help contain pollution.
Officials from the Brazilian Center for Infrastructure said its still too early to determine whether the spill will deter the country’s plans to develop ultra-deepwater fields in the region.
