According to press reports, on Monday 7th July a new leak of production fluids occurred at well 383, in Lobitos district, Talara province, Peru. A statement by the state-owned oil company Petroperú (below) has attributed the spill to tampering with the inactive wellhead and cited evidence of “violation of the perimeter fence”.
“When Petroperú learned of the appearance of production fluids (water, crude oil and sludge) in the area of Well 383 – Lobitos (inoperative) of Lot VI located in the Lobitos District, Talara Province, we activated the contingency plan stipulated in the Petroperú protocol. Unfortunately, residents of the Lobitos area initially prevented specialized teams from accessing the fire, delaying response to the incident and increasing the risk of environmental damage. The Peruvian National Police (PNP) authorities have been notified and will conduct an investigation (verification) to determine the real cause, given that the well valve was tampered with and the perimeter fence violated, and to ensure order and facilitate cleanup efforts. “As of today, Tuesday, July 8, the affected area is 95% cleared, following work carried out by the company’s specialized personnel, which will continue until the area is completely clean. Petroperú reiterates its commitment to environmental care and good relations with the communities affected by the company’s operations”.
Attached below are some Peruvian and Spanish links concerning the oil spills.
Our thanks to Carlos Sagrera for bringing this to our attention:
