Brazil accuses Chevron of neglect

An oil leak reported off the Brazilian coast is likely the result of Chevron's failure to address a similar issue in November, a Brazilian lawmaker said. More than 2,500 barrels of oil spilled at the Frade field, operated by Chevron, off the coast of Brazil in November. The company last week reported a similar incident in the same area. Aluizio dos Santos, a member of Brazil's minority Green Party, told Bloomberg News that Chevron wasn't taking the matter seriously. "I'm convinced we are talking about the same leak, they never managed to stop it," he said. "The timing is unique (and) Congress won't avoid the responsibility of finding out what happened." Brazilian prosecutors last week barred executives from Chevron and rig-owner Transocean from leaving the country. Chevron hasn't provided an update to its response since Saturday. Chevron spokesman Kurt Glaubitz told Bloomberg the U.S. supermajor was prepared for a comprehensive study of the area. "We are confident that we have at all times acted diligently and appropriately and in accordance with the best practices in the oil industry," he said.