Frade Response - Updates

Chevron identified a small new seep in the Frade Field in March 2012. The company is conducting a comprehensive technical study to better understand the geological features of the area. The new seep is in a separate part of the field from the location of the incident in November 2011. The sites are 3 km apart on opposite sides of the field and the main Frade fault.

Containment Devices Deployed

This map depicts the March 2012 seep in yellow and the November 2011 seep in red. The sites are 3 km apart on opposite sides of the Frade Field and the main Frade fault.

The first seep incident was related to a pressure kick experienced during the drilling of a development well. The second seep, with a sheen totaling less than one barrel, occurred when no drilling was being done. Oil samples collected from the second seep and analyzed by the IPEX lab in Brazil and reviewed by Chevron indicate that the oil is not from the Frade production reservoir.

The oil from the newly discovered seeps has different chemical properties than samples collected from either the November seeps related to the drilling incident or from other producing wells within the Frade Field. Further, it does not contain drilling mud that would have indicated it was from the drilling process. The samples also confirmed that the oil coming from seeps discovered in March 2012 is much heavier than the oil from the November 2011 incident.

Chevron Brasil Responds to Charges Against Employees in Brazil

Chevron Brasil issued the following statement in response to charges levied today against 12 of its employees in Brazil by a federal public prosecutor. The charges relate to a spill incident which occurred offshore Brazil in November 2011:

"These charges are outrageous and without merit. Once all the facts are fully examined, they will demonstrate that Chevron and its employees responded appropriately and responsibly to the incident. Chevron will vigorously defend the company and its employees.

"Chevron has collaborated transparently and completely with all the appropriate Brazilian government authorities. This has included providing relevant information on the incident and timely transportation to the incident site for several National Petroleum Agency officials, federal police officers and other authorities.

"There is no technical or factual evidence demonstrating any willful or negligent conduct by Chevron or its employees associated with the incident. We have sought to perform our operations in full compliance with Brazilian laws and industry practices and to comply with all applicable licenses and authorizations.

"Protecting the environment is a core Chevron value and it has been one of our primary concerns. Continuous monitoring of the incident area shows no environmental impact to marine life. No oil reached Brazil's coast. No persons were harmed as a result of the incident, and there is no technical basis for assuming that there is any risk to human health.

"Ongoing monitoring indicates that the seepage has been reduced to intermittent droplets, now being captured in great part by specially built containment devices. Regular reports are being provided to Brazilian authorities."

Aerial photos of the oil sheen taken December 3, 2011

The volume of the surface sheen has now dissipated to less than three barrels of oil.

Vessel engaged in the cleanup activity.

Residual oil that has been expressed from the ocean floor has diminished to infrequent drops.

Aerial photos of the oil sheen taken Nov. 28, 2011.

The sheen pictured above has been greatly reduced to less than three barrels.

Aerial photos of the oil sheen taken Nov. 22, 2011.

Frade Field Incident Timeline (88 KB)

Drilling Schematic (118 KB)

Aerial photos of the oil sheen taken on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011.

As many as 18 vessels have worked to contain and reduce the sheen.

The volume of oil on the ocean surface has been reduced to approximately 18 barrels.

All cleanup methods have been approved by the Brazilian government.

Chevron reports that the oil sheen volume from ocean-floor seep lines in the vicinity of its Frade Field, offshore Brazil, has been substantially reduced to approximately 18 barrels. Current monitoring indicates oil from the seep lines has been reduced to infrequent droplets. The company currently has as many as 18 vessels working on a rotating basis to control and monitor the sheen on the ocean surface. These resources are working in conjunction with Brazilian authorities, including the Navy, ANP and IBAMA. Chevron will conduct a thorough internal investigation of the incident.

Photos, video and satellite images taken on successive days show a significant decrease in oil coming from the seep lines in the vicinity of the Frade Field:

Read a Press Release From ANP Brazil (Government Agency)

See a Video from ANP Brazil and Chevron

Press Release: Chevron Now Cementing Deepwater Well in Brazil; Confirms that No Oil has Flowed from Wellhead

Portuguese Translation of the Press Release

Chevron cimenta poço e confirma não ter ocorrido vazamento de óleo pela cabeça do poço

• Mancha na superfície do oceano é agora uma fração do tamanho original
• Operações de produção continuaram normais durante todo o incidente

A Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda confirmou hoje que a operação de cimentação para vedar um poço de avaliação localizado nas proximidades do campo Frade está em andamento.

A empresa também confirma que jamais ocorreu qualquer fluxo de óleo pela cabeça do poço e que o monitoramento mais recente indica que o óleo das linhas de exsudação próximas do fundo do oceano reduziu-se a um gotejamento ocasional.

A Chevron segue trabalhando em estreita parceria com sua contratada de perfuração, Transocean, nas operações de fechamento do poço. Todas as operações de perfuração de poços de desenvolvimento no campo permanecem suspensas.

A Chevron continua monitorando a mancha de óleo, que dissipou-se significativamente. A estimativa atual situa o volume  de óleo na superfície do oceano abaixo de 65 barris.

A mancha está localizada a cerca de 120 quilômetros do litoral e continua movendo-se em uma direção sul-leste, afastando-se da costa brasileira.

A Chevron continua coordenando e mobilizando recursos para monitorar e recolher o que resta da mancha. A companhia conta com uma frota de até 18 embarcações, operando em rodízio, segundo permitem as condições meteorológicas, para controlar e monitorar a mancha.

As atividades de produção foram mantidos inalteradas no Frade durante o incidente de exsudação. As operações de produção têm sido monitoradas continuamente para assegurar que as instalações não estejam contribuindo para mancha de óleo. O volume diário de produção é de aproximadamente 79.000 barris de óleo equivalente.

A Chevron segue informando com todos os detalhes e trabalhando com os órgãos do governo brasileiro e parceiros do setor em todos os aspectos desta matéria.

O poço de avaliação foi perfurado nas imediações do Campo Frade, operado pela Chevron e localizado a 370 quilômetros a Nordeste do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, em lâmina d'água de aproximadamente 1.200 metros.

Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda is responding to oil seeps and a subsequent sheen that has occurred in the vicinity of the Chevron operated Frade project located 370 km (230 miles) offshore north east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in water depths of approximately 1,200 m (3,800 feet).

Since receiving approval from the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum (ANP) late Sunday, Chevron Brasil immediately commenced plugging and abandonment activities on an appraisal well within the Frade Field which was suspected to be contributing to oil being expressed through seep lines located on the ocean floor.

Chevron Brasil can currently advise that well control operations have been successful and that any fluid flow from the well appears to have ceased.

Monitoring also indicates a significant decrease in the amount of oil observed coming from nearby seep lines on the ocean floor. Chevron Brasil will continue to monitor the situation  during the plugging and abandonment process in the coming days, which will culminate in the final cementing of the well.

In parallel, the company will continue to coordinate and deploy considerable resources to help control the oil sheen which is located about 120 km offshore and moving in a south easterly direction away from the Brazilian coast.

Further updates will be provided as information is confirmed.

Journalists with questions should contact Chevron in Brazil at +55 21 8231 0357 or in the U.S. at +1-925-218-3825. 

Portuguese

A Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda  segue tomando medidas para combater exsudações e  subsequente mancha de óleo localizada nas proximidades do Campo Frade, operado pela empresa e situado a 370 quilômetros a Nordeste da costa do Rio de Janeiro, em lâmina d'água de cerca de 1.200 metros.

Desde a noite de domingo, quando recebeu aprovação da Agência Nacional de Petróleo (ANP) , a Chevron Brasil deu início às operações de selamento e abandono de um poço de avaliação do Campo Frade que teria uma possivel ligação com as exsudações de óleo que estão  saindo  do leito do oceano.

As operações de controle do poço foram bem sucedidas e não há indícios de qualquer fluxo de fluido no poço.

O monitoramento também indica uma significativa redução na quantidade de óleo proveniente das linhas de exsudação no leito do oceano. Nos próximos dias, a empresa seguirá monitorando a situação durante o processo de selamento e abandono do poço, o que terminará na cimentação do mesmo.

A empresa segue coordenando e enviando recursos para a operação de controle da mancha, que está localizada a cerca de 120 quilometros do litoral de Campos, afastando-se da costa na direção Sudeste.

Assim que tivermos mais informações, notificaremos.

Contato Chevron Brasil: +55 21 8231 0357

Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda is responding to oil seeps and a subsequent sheen that has occurred in the vicinity of the Chevron operated Frade project located 370 km (230 miles) offshore north east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in water depths of approximately 1,200 m (3,800 feet).

Based on technical and direct observations, Chevron Brasil estimates that the sheen volume continues to be around the approximate range reported previously. Work continues on coordinating and deploying considerable resources to help control the sheen which is located about 120 km offshore and moving in a south easterly direction away from the Brazilian coast.

There has also been significant progress on investigations into the source and cause of the oil that had been detected coming from a small number of seep lines in the vicinity of a Frade development drilling operation.

Investigations have led Chevron Brasil and Brazilian government agencies to suspect that an appraisal well drilled at the Frade Field last week is contributing to the oil being expressed through these seep lines. This appraisal well was closed in at surface on November 9 as a part of the precautionary suspension of drilling activities implemented by the company.

Chevron Brasil subsequently applied for and received approval from the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum (ANP) late Sunday to plug and abandon this well. The company has since commenced plugging and abandonment activities which involve a series of technical steps and actions culminating in the cementing of the well.

Chevron Brasil will continue to monitor the seep lines to evaluate the effect of the plug and abandonment work. The company continues to engage resources from Chevron Corporation's global response team and inform and work with government agencies and industry partners in its responses to the matter.

Further updates will be provided as information is confirmed.

Journalists with questions should contact Chevron in Brazil at +55 21 8231 0357 or in the U.S. at +1-925-218-3825.

Portuguese

A Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda continua tomando medidas para combater exsudações e a subsequente mancha de óleo localizada nas proximidades do Campo Frade, operado pela empresa e situado a 370 quilômetros a Nordeste da costa do Rio de Janeiro, em lâmina d'água de cerca de 1.200 metros.

Baseado em observações técnicas e diretas, a Chevron Brasil estima que o volume da mancha continua dentro da mesma faixa informada anteriormente. A empresa segue coordenando e enviando recursos para a operação de controle da mancha, que está localizada a cerca de 120 quilometros da costa de Campos e afastando-se da costa e deslocando-se na direção Sudeste.

As investigações sobre a origem e causa do óleo proveniente de exsudações no fundo do mar,  nas proximidades das operações de perfuração no Campo Frade, progrediram significativamente.

As investigações levaram a Chevron Brasil e os órgãos governamentais a suspeitar que um poço de avaliação que estava sendo perfurado no Campo Frade, na semana passada, teria ligação com as exsudações que estão causando a mancha na superfície. Esse poço de avaliação foi fechado na superfície, no dia 9 de novembro (quarta-feira), como parte da medida de precaução que levou a Chevron a suspender temporariamente as atividades de perfuração no Frade.

Desta forma, a Chevron Brasil solicitou, no sábado, à Agência Nacional de Petróleo – ANP e recebeu aprovação para selar e abandonar esse poço. Desde então, a Chevron iniciou o processo de selar e abandonar o poço, atividades que envolvem uma série de etapas técnicas e ações que levarão à cimentação do poço na superfície.

A Chevron Brasil continua monitorando as exsudações para avaliar o efeito do trabalho de abandono do poço. A equipe global de resposta a emergências ambientais está dando suporte à operação e a empresa continua trabalhando com os os órgãos governamentais e os parceiros da indústria.

Assim que tivermos mais informações, notificaremos.

Contato Chevron Brasil: +55 21 8231 0357

Chevron Brazil Petroleo Ltd. is responding to oil seeps and a subsequent sheen that has occurred in the vicinity of the Chevron-operated Frade project 370 km (230 miles) offshore north ast of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in water depths of approximately 1,200 m (3,800 feet).

Based on a range of technical and direct observations, Chevron Brazil continues to estimate the volume of the sheen to be 64 to 104 cubic meters, or 400 to 650 barrels of oil, and located about 120 kilometers off the coast.

Chevron Brazil is deploying experts from Chevron Corporation's global response team and continues to inform and work with government agencies and industry partners in response to the matter.

Chevron Brazil is also managing a fleet of 17 vessels that have been committed by the company and industry partners with a presence in the Campos Basin to help control the sheen.

The fleet is being scheduled on a rotational basis to deploy containment booms and undertake skimming and washing techniques aimed at controlling the sheen.

Oil seeps that have been detected within the vicinity of the Frade Field are releasing oil to the sheen. Investigations are continuing on the cause and source of the oil seeps.

A precautionary suspension of development drilling activities at Frade remains in place.

Inspections of the Frade production facility continues to confirm that production activities are unrelated to the seeps and sheen, and production is continuing.

Further updates will be provided as information is confirmed.

Journalists with questions should contact Chevron in Brazil at +55 21 8231 0357 or in the U.S. at +1-925-218-3825.

Portuguese

A Chevron continua tomando medidas para combater exsudações e a subsequente mancha de óleo localizada nas proximidades do Campo Frade, operado pela empresa e situado a 370 quilômetros a Nordeste da costa do Rio de Janeiro, em lâmina d'água de cerca de 1.200 metros.

Baseado em estimativas realizadas por meio de sobrevoos da área, o volume total na superfície continua estimado entre 64 a 104 metros cúbicos ou entre 404 a 650 barris. A mancha encontra-se a 120 quilômetros da costa.

A empresa colocou sua equipe global de resposta a emergências ambientais em ação para dar suporte à operação e continua trabalhando com os os órgãos governamentais e os parceiros da indústria.

A Chevron também está coordenando uma frota de 17 navios de apoio, da empresa e cedidos por empresas do setor que atuam na Bacia de Campos, para atuar na operação de controle da mancha. A frota está trabalhando ininterruptamente no suporte à operação, o que inclui a utilização de bóias de contenção, skimmers e técnicas de recuperação.

 Exsudações de óleo que foram descobertas nas proximidades das operações de perfuração do Campo Frade são a fonte da mancha de óleo na superfície. As investigações sobre as causas dessas exsudações e da mancha continuam.

As atividades de perfuração no Frade continuam paralizadas. De acordo com inspeções feitas nas instalações do campo, as atividades de produção não estão relacionados com as exsudações e a mancha, e a produção do campo foi mantida.

Assim que tivermos mais informações, notificaremos.

Contato Chevron Brasil: +55 21 8231 0357

Chevron Brazil Petroleo Ltd. is responding to oil seeps and a subsequent sheen that has occurred in the vicinity of the Chevron operated Frade project located 370 km (230 miles) offshore north east of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in water depths of approximately 1,200 m (3,800 feet).

Based on observations from flyovers and response efforts, the total volume of the sheen is currently estimated to be between 64 to 104 cubic meters or 400 to 650 barrels of oil. Chevron Brazil continues to work with industry partners and is scheduling and deploying a fleet of support vessels to control the sheen and minimize any environmental impact.

Further investigation by a remotely operated subsea vehicle has determined that there are a small number of seep lines in the vicinity of Frade's development drilling operations. These seep lines are a source of the oil sheen at the surface.

As part of the precautionary suspension of development drilling activities at Frade, Chevron Brazil has closed in a well it was drilling in the vicinity of these oil seeps. Investigations are continuing on the cause and source of the seeps.

Inspections of the Frade production facility had determined that production activities are unrelated to the seeps and sheen and production is continuing.

Chevron Brazil continues to keep the appropriate agencies informed, and further updates will be provided as information is confirmed.

Portuguese

A Chevron Brasil Petroleo Ltda continua tomando medidas para combater exsudações e subsequente mancha de óleo localizada nas proximidades do campo Frade, operado pela empresa e situado a 370 quilômetros a Nordeste da costa do Rio de Janeiro, em lâmina d'água de cerca de 1.200 metros.

Baseado em estimativas realizadas por meio de sobrevoos da área, o volume total na superfície é estimado entre 64 a 104 metros cúbicos ou entre 400 a 650 barris. A Chevron continua trabalhando com os parceiros da indústria e está coordenando uma frota de navios de apoio enviados para dar suporte à operação, controlar a mancha e minimizar qualquer impacto ambiental.

Investigações mais detalhadas, realizadas por um veículo submarino operado à distância, revelaram a existência de algumas exsudações de óleo nas proximidades das operações de perfuração do Campo Frade. Esses pontos de exsudação são a fonte da mancha de óleo na superfície.

Como medida de precaução a Chevron suspendeu temporariamente as atividades de perfuração no Frade e fechou o poço que estava sendo perfurado na proximidade dessas exsudações. As investigações sobre as causas das exsudações e da mancha continuam.

Uma inspeção realizada nas instalações do Frade mostrou que as atividades de produção não estão relacionados com as exsudações e a mancha, e a produção do campo foi mantida.

A Chevron está mantendo, diariamente, todos os órgãos competentes informados e assim que tivermos mais informações, notificaremos.

Chevron Brazil Petroleo Ltd. is responding to an oil sheen that has occurred in the vicinity of the Chevron operated Frade project located 370 km (230 miles) offshore north east of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in water depths of approximately 1,200 m (3,800 feet).

Based on current estimates from flyovers of the area, the total volume on the surface is estimated at less than 10 cubic meters or approximately 60 barrels of oil.

Chevron Brazil has deployed a remote operated subsea vehicle that has determined a source of the sheen is oil coming from a seep on the seabed within the vicinity of the Frade Field's development drilling program. Investigations into the causes of the sheen are continuing.

An inspection of the Frade facility has determined that production activities are unrelated to the sheen and production is continuing. As a precautionary measure, Chevron Brazil has temporarily halted drilling activities at Frade.

Chevron Brazil has notified the appropriate agencies and is working with industry partners to deploy response vessels to control the sheen and minimize any environmental impact.

Further updates will be provided as information is confirmed.

Portuguese

A Chevron Brasil Petróleo Ltda está tomando medidas para combater uma mancha de óleo localizada nas proximidades do campo Frade, operado pela empresa e situado a 370 quilômetros a Nordeste da costa do Rio de Janeiro, em lâmina d'água de cerca de 1.200 m.

Baseado em estimativas realizadas por meio de sobrevoos da área, o volume total na superfície é estimado em menos de 10 metros cúbicos, ou cerca de 60 barris de petróleo.

A Chevron Brasil, através de dados fornecidos por um veículo submarino operado à distância, identificou que a fonte da mancha é o óleo proveniente de uma falha na superíficie do fundo do mar, localizada próxima ao Campo Frade. As investigações sobre as causas da mancha continuam.

Uma inspeção realizada nas instalações do Frade mostrou que as atividades de produção não estão relacionados com a mancha, e a produção do campo foi mantida. Como medida de precaução, a Chevron suspendeu temporariamente as atividades de perfuração no Frade.

A Chevron Brasil informou os órgãos competentes e está trabalhando com parceiros da indústria e usando navios para controlar a mancha e minimizar qualquer impacto ambiental.

Assim que tivermos mais informações, notificaremos.

Chevron Brasil Petroleo Ltd. is aware of an oil sheen located between the Frade and Roncador fields in the Campos Basin.

Chevron is investigating the source of the oil sheen. All the appropriate actions to respond are being taken.

As soon as we have further information, we will provide additional updates.