Aerial photos of the oil sheen taken on Saturday, November 19, 2011.  © Chevron

Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda., has issued an estimate of total oil volume from ocean floor seep lines in the vicinity of its Frade Field.

Chevron believes that approximately 2,400 barrels of oil have been emitted to date since seeps were first detected on November 9. The company notes that this estimate is within the current range of 1,600 to 2,640 barrels provided by Brazils National Petroleum Agency (ANP).

Chevron say that its personnel were trained and prepared to address a potential incident of this type and responded immediately from the moment of first notification. The company say further that its combined efforts greatly diminished the size of the sheen and stopped the source of the seep flow within only four days of first detection.

The surface sheen continues to dissipate and its volume is now less than 18 barrels of oil. Chevron believes no new oil is leaking from the reservoir