Industry news
Oil rig firm protected from claims
Posted Fri, 27 Jan 2012
Transocean Ltd, the rig owner involved in drilling the well which blew out in the Gulf of Mexico, was sheltered from having to pay many pollution claims due to its contract with BP, a US federal judge has ruled.
But US District Judge Carl Barbier also ruled it is not exempt from punitive damage payments and civil penalties arising from the blow-out and said Transocean holds responsibility for claims related directly to pollution caused by the rig involved.
The US Justice Department is working with the states to create an outline for a settlement and next month will see the start of a trial on the spillage.
The incident, the US's largest offshore oil spill, happened 100 miles off Louisiana on April 20, 2010 when the Deepwater Horizon sank to the bottom of the ocean.
Copyright Press Association 2012