A federal grand jury awarded Texas-based Amplify Energy Corp. and two of its subsidiaries, which produce oil from several offshore platforms and operate a pipeline running on the seabed, are accused of polluting ocean waters and beaches in Southern California with crude oil spilled from this pipeline.
Prosecutors say the incident in October was caused, at least in part, by a lack of attention to signals warning of a potential pipeline rupture. An investigation into the incident concluded that the pipeline was weakened back in January when a freighter blew off its anchor under the pressure of the wind and hit it. The pipeline held out until October 1, when about 25,000 gallons of oil spilled into the ocean.
The prosecutor’s office alleges that branch management failed to adequately respond to eight early warning signals received within 13 hours before the pipeline rupture. After each such signal, the pipeline was closed, and then opened again, pouring new portions of oil into the ocean.
A representative of the parent company accuses an unnamed shipping company of hitting the pipeline and moving it from its place. Workers at production wells and the shore station considered the signals of a possible leak to be false and caused by malfunctions in the system. One of the signals came from an offshore platform where there was no leak, and a break occurred in a section of the pipeline 4 miles from that platform.
It is not yet known what kind of penalties the prosecutor’s office will require against these companies if they are found guilty.
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