Chevron confirms oil spill

An oil industry giant has confirmed the existence of an oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.

Chevron yesterday (September 13th) announced that there is a leak from a shallow water crude oil pipeline in the Main Pass Area of the Gulf of Mexico.

As a result, the company has shut down its offshore Louisiana Main Pass pipeline network and its Cypress line.

It is thought about 15,000 barrels per day of crude oil production has been prevented as the oil industry giant works to deal with the pipeline leak.

However, it claimed last night that it will resume partial production within 24 hours.

Chevron said the leak was from a 10-inch riser pipeline in Main Pass Block 299, with this type of pipeline normally transporting crude oil from the seabed to production platforms.

The Gulf of Mexico has only recently been reopened for exploration following the Deepwater Horizon disaster in April 2010.