Anadarko Argues Against $1B Penalty in 2010 Gulf Oil Spill

An energy company that invested in the ill-fated Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico is arguing in court that it should not face steep federal penalties for the 2010 BP oil spill.

The government has suggested a penalty of more $1 billion for Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

Anadarko lawyers argue for a lower fine, noting the company was not involved in operations on the Deepwater Horizon rig, where an explosion killed 11 workers and sent oil spewing into the Gulf for 87 days.

The penalty trial resumed Monday after two weeks of conflicting testimony by witnesses for the U.S. Justice Department and BP. Government lawyers want a penalty against BP at or near an estimated $13.7 billion maximum. BP is arguing for a much lower penalty.