The Queensland Environmental Protection Agency has charged the company with causing serious environmental harm following the rupture of an underground pipeline near the Port of Brisbane in March.
An estimated 2 million litres of crude oil leaked from a pipeline at the Santos terminal in Lytton.
The spill sparked a major clean-up operation as the light crude leaked from the pipeline into five hectares of reclaimed riverside land, drainage channels and small creeks at Lytton.
The portion of damaged pipe was removed for inspection by authorities.
An EPA spokesman says a complaint and summons were lodged in the Brisbane Magistrates Court late last week.
Santos faces a fine of up to $625,000 if convicted of the offence Under s437 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
