BP HAS filed court papers aimed at stopping it from having to pay compensation for possible punitive damages, fines and penalties US energy service firm Halliburton could face for its role in the Macondo disaster.
Halliburton is one of several firms involved in the explosion, which killed 11 workers and led to a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April last year.
A US federal trial is scheduled to start in February to determine who was at fault for the worst offshore oil spill in American history. It is expected to last eight weeks.
While four companies involved in the incident have settled with BP, it is still locked in legal battles with Halliburton and rig operator Transocean.
BP has now said in court papers the law and its contract with Halliburton did not allow the UK oil giant to be held responsible for covering punitive damages ultimately faced by Halliburton.
The oil supermajor is also asking the court to reject Halliburton’s request that BP indemnify it for other costs it has incurred since the spill.
Last week, the British group said it would not pursue any legal action against Cameron International after the firms agreed that the contractor would pay a £161million settlement.
BP, which has paid about £4.8billion to individuals, businesses, and government bodies since the disaster, has also struck deals with MOEX, Anadarko and Weatherford.
There was no comment from BP on the court papers but chief executive Bob Dudley has said previously: “Other companies persist in refusing to accept responsibility for their roles in the accident and for contributing to restoration efforts.”
BP has accused Halliburton of damaging evidence on the quality of cement used on Macondo, while Transocean, which operated the Deepwater Horizon rig, is being sued by the oil company for at least £24.5billion.
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