Drilling contractor Transocean is understood to pushing for jail time and fines against Greenpeace bosses, despite receiving a favourable ruling halting any further North Sea action.
Greenpeace told Energy Voice last night that Transocean had sought and was granted a permanent ban from an Edinburgh court before Christmas.
But it added that the granting of the permanent interdict effectively closed the case against Greenpeace.
Transocean is the operator of the Paul B Loyd Jr drilling rig that was halted by protesters while on its way to BP’s Vorlich field in June.
The firm claim Greenpeace knowingly breached an interim interdict, a court order designed to prevent protest action and that they put people and property “at risk”.
It is claimed Transocean are now “doggedly” seeking to reopen the case in order to seek prison sentences and hefty fines against the climate protest group.
Transocean said last night that Greenpeace had “breached” a court order and put people and property “at risk”.
John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: “Big oil are rattled because they know they are responsible for our climate emergency.
“They want to keep profiting from dirty drilling and they’re doing everything they can to silence us: from getting interdicts to trying to jail us.
“We will not be bullied by Transocean, Shell or BP.
“We stand ready to protect our planet from climate criminals, and won’t give up until they swap oil and gas for renewable energy that benefits us all.”
A procedural hearing will take place on Thursday at the Edinburgh’s Court of Session to decide whether Transocean are allowed to continue the case against Greenpeace or whether the permanent injunction is considered sufficient.
A Greenpeace source claimed Transocean is now “throwing everything” at the case.
Transocean’s rig was forced to abort its journey to Vorlich several times after the campaigners blocked its path with an icebreaker ship and two inflatable launches.
Greenpeace activists also scaled the Paul B Loyd Jnr rig days before in an attempt to stop it from leaving the Cromarty Firth.
As the stand-off continued, Transocean went to court for the interim interdict – which workers allegedly lowered down to Greenpeace protesters camped on the rig in a bucket – requesting they cease and desist.
A spokeswoman for Transocean said: “While we support the right to peacefully and safely protest, Greenpeace protestors placed both people and property unnecessarily at risk when they illegally boarded and subsequently interfered with the safe passage of one of our rigs this summer.
“We requested and received a court interdict to prevent any further activity that would place people or property at risk.
“Greenpeace breached the court interdict by encouraging interference with the safe passage of our rig – again placing people and property at risk.”