Track: Pollution

Abstract

The world dependency on oil is not diminishing. How can we protect environment yet allowing economy to prosper ?The future of oil industry is  in offshore drilling but the body of International law that regulates the environment viz a viz-offshore oil industry has had rough relation. This article aims to sift through the treaty liability rules applicable to oil spill accidents from offshore drilling. The discussion  explores the current scope of compensation in offshore oil accidents e.g. employee deaths, community losses, related economic losses, natural resources damage. Issues such as class-tort claims the civil and criminal charges/penalty against the responsible parties in oil industry, and possible defense strategies, are also discussed. Civil liability for pollution damage is known and firmly recognized under International law. But there is no global international treaty that addresses this question with respect to offshore oil and gas exploration. This may be due to the scarcity of the happening of offshore oil well blow-outs. But what ever incident took place had devastating effects on marine environment. The article offers some recommendations to re-invent international legal system for better protection of marine environment by the offshore oil companies through better preparedness rules, stronger insurance system and efficient liability laws. This review is in light of technical equipment and facilities needed or used during such activities which may include offshore platforms (fixed or floating), offshore storage/loading systems, wells, offshore pipelines, deep sea drilling units and other associated offshore equipment, constructions, and installations

KEYWORDS:
Marine environment; offshore oil company; Pollution; Compensation; strict liability; polluter pays principle