A federal police spokesman confirmed Wednesday that investigators have found that an offshore oil spill near a Chevron well last year caused no significant environmental damage.

The spokesman gave no other details about the conclusion, which was reported earlier in the day by two leading Brazilian newspapers: Folha de S. Paulo and O Estado de S. Paulo. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to discuss the case.

He said the report was delivered to a federal court, where a judge is considering criminal charges sought by federal prosecutors against Chevron Corp. and drilling contractor Transocean Ltd. That case includes a study conducted earlier this year by Brazil's environmental agency that concluded that the leak did cause environmental damage.

A spokeswoman at the federal court said she would not comment on the report until after it is reviewed by a judge. She declined to be identified in line with departmental regulations.