WASHINGTON: American oil giant Chevron was fined $17.5 million for a major oil spill in Brazil's territorial waters, authorities said on Monday. The spill started in a platform in the Frade field off Brazil's southeastern coast last November and continued for several months until the well was closed. Some 3,700 barrels of oil were estimated to have been spilled into the Brazilian waters. Director of Brazil's National Petroleum Agency, Magda Chambriard, said that during the accident Chevron committed 25 infractions of Brazil's oil regulations. The fine announced Monday covered all infractions except the one involving the abandonment of the well from which the oil spilled. The fine for this particular infraction can reach 2 million reais (some US$1 million), said Chambriard, adding that a related decision would be reached within two months. Chevron can appeal the fine. The company and its partner Transocean, an offshore driller, have been forbidden to operate in Brazil until the end of the investigations.
