Petrobras Shuts Down 13 Rigs For Leak Check

Brazil's state oil giant Petrobras halted output at 13 offshore rigs on Thursday in the Campos basin to check for leaks after an oil slick appeared on the ocean surface in the area. The stoppage results in output losses of 135,000 barrels of oil and 830,000 cubic meters of natural gas per day, or nearly 10 percent of Petrobras' daily output. "There is no production there now. When it will be resumed depends on when we find the leak," said a Petrobras spokesman. "Probably tomorrow production will remain halted." Petrobras said the leak off the Rio de Janeiro state coast was relatively small -- of around 98,000 liters (26,000 gallons) of crude. The company said in a statement it was yet unclear where the oil, which formed a thin layer on the ocean's service, had come from, but was suspecting a leak from one of the offshore platforms or tankers. - (Reuters)