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| Chevron says it got the leak under control on 13 November |
Prosecutorsin Brazil are demanding $10.6bn (£6.8bn) from US oil company Chevron forenvironmental damage caused when one of its oil wells leaked off the coast ofRio de Janeiro.
Theprosecutors also asked the court to immediately suspend the operations ofChevron and its drilling contractor, Transocean, in Brazil.
Brazil hasalready fined Chevron $28m for the spill on 8 November.
A Chevronofficial said the company had not yet been notified of the suit.
Theprosecutors who brought the case argued that "Chevron and Transoceanweren't capable of controlling the damages from a spill of 3,000 barrels ofoil, which proves a lack of environmental planning and management".
They alsoaccused Chevron of keeping information from Brazil's oil regulator, known by itsinitials ANP.
Chevron hasbeen banned from drilling any new wells for at least three months, while theANP investigates the spill.
Chevron hasaccepted full responsibility for the leak.
The companysaid it had underestimated the pressure of underwater oil deposits whiledrilling, causing oil to rush up the bore hole and seep into the surroundingseabed.
