Deepwater fines

A US federal judge has ordered Anadarko Petroleum to pay a $159.5mn civil fine reflecting its stake in the Deepwater Horizon blowout in 2010. Anadarko had a 25% interest in the Macondo well.

The penalty equates to $50 per barrel of oil spilled, well below the maximum $1,100 per barrel or $3.5bn penalty that could have been imposed under the US Clean Water Act.

In 2011 Anadarko agreed to pay BP $4bn to help cover victim claims and clean-up costs. Later, BP − which owned 65% of the Macondo well − reached a $20.8bn settlement with the US government and five Gulf states.