SAN RAMON, Calif., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. supermajor Chevron said it wasn't notified of any decision by the Brazilian government to file a civil lawsuit for a spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.
The Brazilian Environment Ministry imposed a $27.7 million fine on Chevron for a spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro last month. The Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels added it would hit the supermajor with additional fines for a lack of disclosure about the accident.
Chevron estimated around 2,400 barrels of oil leaked from a so-called seep line near the Frade field.
Chevron said Brazilian prosecutors announced to the media plans to file a $10.7 billion lawsuit against the company and file an injunction that would stop it from working there.
"Chevron has not received any formal notice of this action," the company said in a statement. "Chevron also has not received any instruction from the regulatory agencies with oversight responsibility for our activities in Brazil regarding suspension of our operations."
The supermajor complained it dealt with last month's spill in a transparent fashion and noted there was no coastal or wildlife impact from the event.
An estimated 50 billion barrels of oil lies off the country's coast, a volume that's expected to put the Latin American country on par with some of the world's top oil producers.
