The president of Brazilian state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, says she's "uncomfortable" with news that the company may have been the target of spying by the U.S., but said she doesn't believe any crucial technology was stolen.

"This [allegation of spying] makes us uncomfortable. We don't know what got out," Petrobras President Maria das Gracas Foster told a committee in the Brazilian senate.

The committee is investigating allegations made by a Brazilian TV station that the U.S. National Security Agency spied on Brazil 's President Dilma Rousseff and Petrobras, based on documents provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

The CEO admitted she doesn't know exactly what was targeted by the spying, but said she doesn't believe any of the firm's technology secrets had been stolen. Among other technologies, Petrobras is regarded as an expert in certain high-tech equipment used in deep-sea drilling for oil and gas.

"Occasional access to our data, although unacceptable, doesn't represent a risk regarding technology. For a competitor to gain this, they need to have continuous access, for a long period of time," Ms. Foster said.

The executive said there is no evidence that the firm's exploration and production data was accessed. Petrobras has an enormous investment program to search for oil and gas in Brazil and overseas, and analysts say that access to that information could provide competitors with a strategic advantage.

President Rousseff on Tuesday postponed a state visit to the U.S. October as a result of the fallout from the spying scandal. In a statement, the Brazilian government said that if it gets a full explanation from the U.S. , the state visit can be rescheduled.

The U.S. hasn't discussed individual cases, but it has acknowledged that it collects information about economic and financial matters, and terrorist financing. It has, however, rejected claims it's stolen secrets for commercial purposes.

"What we do not do, as we have said many times, is use our foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of -- or give intelligence we collect to -- U.S. companies to enhance their international competitiveness or increase their bottom line," Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in a general statement on espionage released Sept. 9.
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