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Chevron crews began cleaning up a massive, continuous oil spill in California after nearly 800,000 gallons of oil and water were dumped into a canyon near Bakersfield in May.
The company recently revealed that 794,000 gallons of water and oil had leaked from the ground and that Chevron was using a steam injection to extract oil in the large Cymric oilfield located about 35 miles west of Bakersfield. .
Spokeswoman Veronica Flores-Paniagua told the Associated Press on Friday that the latest water flow had stopped and that officials had now begun the process of cleaning up the affected areas.
A company fined $ 3.3 million in 25 years for the worst oil spill in California
According to the Office of Spill Prevention at the California Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, the cleanup and final investigation into the cause of the oil spill was delayed somewhat, with officials having to ensure that it was not There were no dangerous fumes or sinkholes that could trap workers or heavy equipment.
In this May 10, 2019 photo provided by California's Office of Spill Prevention and Spill Response, oil is flowing into a Chevron oil field in Kern County, California. Nearly 800,000 gallons of oil and water have been flowing from the ground since May. (Office of Spill Prevention and Spill Response via the California Department of Fish and Wildlife)
The cause of the spill has not yet been determined, but officials say it is not near a waterway and has not significantly affected wildlife. About 70% of the fluid is water, which means that about 240,000 gallons of oil have passed.
The state issued a finding of contravention to Chevron ordering it to stop the steam injections around the spill. The company has also increased its oil production from wells in the region. These two actions aim to reduce the underground pressure that could force the mixing of oil and water to the surface.
The steam injection process softens the thick stock so that it can flow more easily.
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Environmental groups have said the Chevron spill is another sign of weakening regulation under the agency of a troubled California agency. Governor Gavin Newsom this week dismissed the head of the state's oil and gas division for a recent increase in the number of hydraulic fracturing licenses and a conflict of interest investigation with other employees of the division.
Chevron will pay for cleaning while California State officials will oversee the process.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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