Anadarko Fined with USD 159.5 Million for Deepwater Horizon

The US 5th District Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Lousiana, overseeing the Deepwater Horizon litigation, has set a penalty of USD 159.5 million for the oil major Anadarko, the co-owner and co-lessee of the well.

The ruling was issued as part of the Clean Water Act penalty phase.

According to the ruling, the Court said that the company is not guilty, but that its 25 percent ownership stake in the well was the basis for the fine.

“We are pleased that this penalty is far less than the amount sought by the government. Today’s ruling clearly shows that the Court gave significant weight to its previous findings that as a non-operating investor in the Macondo Well, we had no role in the events that caused the tragic 2010 spill, and bear no fault,” Anadarko said.

This penalty is well below the maximum of USD 1,100 per barrel, totaling USD 3.51 billion, which the court could have imposed under the Clear Water Act.

The company was fined USD 50 per barrel of oil spilled.

Anadarko said that it is “carefully evaluating” its appellate options.

According to a ruling by US District Judge Carl Barbier, New Orleans, reported by World Maritime News, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster unleashed 3.19 million bbl. of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.