Contract with BP 'shielded Halliburton'

A US judge has ruled that Halliburton can avoid paying most of the pollution claims that resulted from the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill because it was shielded in a contract with well owner BP.

Still, US District Judge Carl Barbier said Halliburton was not exempt from paying punitive damages and civil penalties that arise from the April 20 2010 blowout off the Louisiana coast, which could amount to billions of dollars.