28 Jul 2005

The quality of the remediation work done by Texpet was verified at Shushufindi-13

Texpet signed liberation agreements with the Government of Ecuador, PETROECUADOR, local authorities, and Indigenous Organizations

Nueva Loja, Ecuador, July 28, 2005 - During the Judicial Inspection at the well site Shushufindi-13 the President of the Superior Court of Nueva Loja, Efrain Novillo, observed the areas remediated by Texaco Petroleum Company (Texpet) between 1995 and 1998 under the Plan of Environmental Remediation of 1995. So far, official scientific reports submitted to the Court for 15 previously inspected sites have demonstrated that the areas remediated by Texpet are safe and do not present a health risk for neighboring communities.

Highlights of the Judicial Inspection:

  • Chevron's attorneys emphasized to the Court that Texpet not only signed liberation agreements with the Ecuadorian Government and PETROECUADOR, but also with the local governments and community organizations. The municipal governments of Lago Agrio, Shushufindi, Joya de los Sachas, Francisco de Orellana and the Provincial Council of Sucumbios received economic assistance from Texpet for public works projects to provide potable water and sewerage management infrastructure. Texpet also provided Indigenous (OPIP) and Farmers Organizations (FOISE and FCUNAE) economic assistance for the establishment of four Medical and Educational Centers and other social projects for improving quality of life. This firmly rebutted the plaintiffs´ accusations that they did not feel represented by the agreements signed between Texpet, the Ecuadorian Government and PETROECUADOR.
  • During the tour of Shushufindi-13 the Court was able to verify two former pits - one which had contained crude oil and the other which had contained water - were remediated by Texpet in 1996. An area impacted by a PETROECUADOR oil spill near the well platform was also included in the remediation work. Today, native vegetation covers the area where the two pits were.
  • Chevron gave the Court official documents that liberated Texpet of the remediation of a third pit. In 1995 the Ecuadorian Government determined this pit did not require any remediation, and so it was not included in the Remediation Plan of 1995.
  • Chevron attorney also gave the Court official documents from PETROECUADOR about an oil spill, which took place in this well February 18, 2001 more than 10 years after PETROECUADOR took over operations at the site. It occurred because of corrosion due to the poor maintenance of a flowline. Additionally, PETROECUADOR has performed several workovers of the well since it took over operations in July 1990 (August 1990, September, 1991, November 1994 and 1997, December 1997, January 1998, and December 1999).

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