Brazil Frade criminal charges 'dropped'

An aerial view is seen of oil that seeped off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, caused by a well drilled by Chevron at Frade, on the water in Campos Basin in Rio de Janeiro state November 18, 2011. Brazilian federal police have opened a probe into U.S. oil giant Chevron over alleged pollution linked to an oil spill at its offshore Frade project, local media reported. Brazil's energy regulator ANP said oil seeps off the coast of Rio de Janeiro were caused by a well drilled by Chevron at Frade, where the company has estimated that as much as 650 barrels had been released causing a

Brazil spill: Criminal charges against oil-industry workers dropped

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Kathrine Schmidt

 20 February 2013 21:45 GMT

Chevron and Transocean said on Wednesday that a criminal case against 17 workers in connection with a 2011 spill at Brazil’s Frade field has been dropped.

The US supermajor and drilling contractor both confirmed to Upstream the dismissal of the charges, which could have saddled employees with jail terms of up to 31 years over the spill, which was about 3600 barrels and never reached shore.

The suit, as well as civil damages case and an operating ban, led to the seizure of employee passports and imposition of travel restrictions.

“Chevron Brasil remains committed to its policy of full transparency and close cooperation with the Brazilian authorities,” Chevron spokesman James Craig told Upstream in a statement.

“We are committed…

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