17 Mar 2006
During Judicial Inspection of Lago Agrio-15 Court Observes Environmental Damage Caused by Fuel Thieves
Nueva Loja, Ecuador, March 17, 2006 - During yesterday's Judicial Inspection at Well Lago Agrio-15, the President of the Superior Court of Nueva Loja observed environmental damage apparently caused by a spill of white gasoline or diesel from the Shushufindi-Quito pipeline that was damaged, probably by thieves who may have attempted to steal the product. The Court observed pieces of broken pipeline and burned vegetation. The area had an obvious gasoline odor.
Theft of white gasoline is common in this area of Ecuador which borders Colombia. Thieves intentionally rupture pipelines to steal white gasoline, a crude oil distillate that is used by illicit drug operations to process coca leaves into base cocaine. Such attacks produce environmental impacts which are clearly not Chevron's responsibility.
As ordered by the Ecuadorian Government and Petroecuador, Well Lago Agrio-15 was not included in the inventory of sites inside the Environmental Remediation Program carried out by Texaco Petroleum Company (Texpet) between 1995 and 1998. Petroecuador has operated this well for more than 15 years and has been the sole owner since 1992.
Through the use of a 1990 satellite image, Chevron's attorney pointed out to the Court the existence of a former oil pit located under a small hill to the West of the well. The pit was apparently covered with dirt after Petroecuador took over operation of the well in June 1990. The Court was able to observe that part of the hill had been excavated, reducing the integrity of the oil pit. In spite of the pit's poor condition and the apparent lack of any adequate remediation work by Petroecuador, several perforations made by the technicians demonstrated there was no liquid oil in the former pit. It was also shown that the material found inside has not been flowing outside the pit.
Back to top