Chevron oil leak still not brought under control

Brazil Chevron's Frade field oil leak is still ongoing, with managers unable to give a precise timescale for bringing it under control.

The leak first began last month in the Campos Basin oil refinery area, but has been steadily decreasing amid ongoing efforts by the company to stop it completely.

In public hearing, managers at Chevron explained that the largest leak had been brought under control.

The ongoing problems are being caused by the residual leaks, which still need to be contained.

In an email to Bloomberg earlier this week, Chevron's San Ramon spokesman Scott Walker said: "Our analysis so far indicates that the cement plugs have been properly placed.

"Chevron will continue to discuss this and other issues with regulators and hopes to get their approval soon to proceed with the proposed well abandonment plan."

An estimated 2,400 barrells of oil have come to the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, spread over a 240,000 square meter area.

Posted by Claire Manning