In a move similar to one recently employed by BP, Halliburton and Transocean are seeking to have claims for economic damages by two Gulf Coast states dismissed, claiming the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the largest oil spill in U.S. history, is a matter of federal, not state law.
The two companies say the spill is governed by the Oil Pollution Act, which is a federal statute, and are seeking the dismissal of claims by Alabama and Louisiana.
The companies say Louisiana did not follow proper presentment procedure under the Oil Pollution Act, so its claims should be dropped, according to Courthouse News.
Texas-based Halliburton (HAL) and Switzerland-based Transocean (RIG) claim they are not considered ''responsible parties'' under the Oil Pollution Act.
Halliburton, the world's second-largest provider of oilfield services, provided cement services for the Macondo well while Transocean, the world's largest provider offshore drilling services, owned the Deepwater Horizon rig. BP (BP), Europe's second-largest oil company, was the operator of the Deepwater Horizon.
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