How widespread is potential liability in Deepwater Venture rig disaster?

The first lawsuit was filed August 22, the same day the Deepwater Horizon sank into the Gulf of Mexico. A second suit followed the next day. As expected, Transocean Ltd, the platform’s owner, and BP, the operator, were named and charged with negligence and failure to follow federal regulations.

But chances are that a structure housing 126 workers and worth over $600 million like the Deepwater Horizon has other companies involved in its day-to-day operations.


As an example, Smith International, Inc. confirmed that five M-I SWACO employees were aboard the rig during the time of the April 20 explosion. Three of them survived but two did not.

Smith International owns 60% of M-I SWACO and Schlumberger Limited owns 40%. The company was involved in the Deepwater Horizon as an oil industry supplier of goods and services.

Though Transocean receives the brunt of media attention for its safety record, how many potential companies could have some liability in the death of 11 workers?