Reuters is reporting that a November oil spill off Brazil
will likely result in criminal charges "within weeks" against Chevron
Corp., its top local executive and some employees of Transocean Ltd., the
drilling rig firm involved in the Gulf of Mexico disaster. A West
Hollywood Environmental Lawyer watched closely.
Three Brazilian government officials involved in the case
told Reuters that a federal court filing "will likely include a request
for criminal indictment" of George Buck, chief executive of Chevron's
Brazil unit, along with other staff members.
The case has not yet been presented to a judge, who would
decide "whether to accept the charges and proceed with indictments,"
Reuters writes.
Chevron spokesman Kurt Glaubitz told Reuters the
California-based oil giant "believes that the charges are without
merit" and that "Chevron is confident that once all the facts are
fully examined, they will demonstrate that Chevron responded appropriately and
responsibly to the incident."
A Transocean spokesman declined to comment. A Portland
Environmental Lawyer was interested in the non-comment.
Federal prosecutors have already filed a civil lawsuit that
seeks $11 billion for the 2,400-barrel spill about 75 miles off the
southeastern coast of Brazil.
A Federal Police report has accused Chevron and Transocean
of taking "unacceptable" risks and concluded that the 4,000-foot-deep
well "could not and should not have been drilled." Police recommended
that 17 individuals be indicted, including as many as 12 from Chevron, Reuters
says, citing legal documents
A pressure "kick" from natural gas occurred Nov. 7
after the well was tapped in the Fade oil field, triggering an emergency
blowout preventer. But days later, oil was found leaking from the ocean floor
several hundred feet from the plugged well.
The failure of a blowout preventer triggered the April 2010
explosion and fire that destroyed a Transocean rig drilling for BP and resulted
in the historic Gulf disaster. No criminal charges were ever filed. Although, a
Salt
Lake City Environmental Lawyer was curious about the situation.
Today in New Orleans, a federal judge ruled that
Transocean's contract with BP shielded it from paying many pollution claims but
that the rig owner is not exempt from punitive damages and civil penalties.
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said
Transocean is responsible for claims directly related to pollution caused by
its Deepwater Horizon rig.
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