Transocean, the owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig that blew out in the Gulf of Mexico nearly two years ago, is not liable for some of the pollution claims arising from the fatal accident, a federal judge in Louisiana ruled Thursday.
Transocean had argued that BP, as the owner of the well, was responsible for all of the costs of the blowout, which killed 11 workers and spilled nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the gulf.
Carl Barbier, the federal judge hearing lawsuits relating to the disaster, agreed in part, saying that Transocean’s contract with BP shielded it from compensatory claims. But the judge said that Transocean, the world’s largest offshore-drilling contractor, would be subject to any pollution fines levied under the federal Clean Water Act, and its share of punitive damages, if any are assessed.
Denver Post staff and wire reports
