News Releases & Statements
November 16, 2006
Judicial Inspection of Well Auca 01 Reveals Numerous Oil Spills Have Occurred During Petroecuador's Operation
Petroecuador is responsible for the site's poor condition
Coca, November 16, 2006 - During yesterday's Judicial Inspection to Well Auca 01, an active oil production site exclusively operated by Petroecuador since 1992, several examples of oil spills occurring from 1995 on were presented to Dr. Germán Yánez, President of the Superior Court of Nueva Loja.
Chevron's legal counsel also provided a broad record of the well's workovers which show Petroecuador is responsible for the current environmental conditions in the zone.
Record of Oil Spills - Well Auca 01
| Date of Oil Spill |
Affected Area |
Cause |
| October 1, 1995 |
20 m2 |
Unknown |
| March 19, 1997 |
400 m2 |
Unknown |
| June 2, 1997 |
1,800 m2 |
Unknown |
| March 6, 2000 |
1,000 m2 |
Corrosion |
| September 23, 2000 |
1,000 m2 |
Corrosion |
| October 29, 2002 |
800 m2 |
Corrosion |
| November 27, 2003 |
3,455 m2 |
Corrosion |
| May 12, 2003 |
3,852 m2 |
Corrosion |
| March 26, 2004 |
86 m2 |
Corrosion |
| November 3, 2004 |
300 m2 |
Pipelines change |
Source: Petroproducción.
The plaintiffs' strategy consisted of presenting witnesses who live in the area and claimed to be unaware of spills occurring over the last ten years; this was considered as "convenient amnesia", which reminded the witnesses of their obligation to tell the whole truth, something which is not convenient for the plaintiffs' interests.
However, the evidence of existing contamination in the area was finally acknowledged by the plaintiffs' lawyer, who had no choice but to accept Petroecuador had in fact contaminated the area as a result of the terrible quality of the State owned operations, which he underlined was not being judged in this case.
Adolfo Callejas, Chevron's lawyer provided additional evidence that Petroecuador is carrying out a remediation program in the pits belonging to the former oil production consortium, thus assuming its responsibility. These activities are being carried out despite the opposition and annoyance of the Amazon Defense Front (FDA) which has expressed its opposition to the remediation works.
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