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BP Pays Louisiana $350m to Settle Spill Claims

BP will pay Louisiana a single $350m instead of $373m due over seven years, and the deal also settles the remaining parish coastal lawsuits over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

BP (LSE: BP) has agreed to pay Louisiana a single lump sum of $350m, replacing $373m that was due in instalments over the next seven years. The oil major announced the deal on Friday. It also settles the remaining coastal lawsuits brought by Louisiana parishes over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill.

BP shares closed on Friday at 638.5p, up 26.6p, or 4.3%, from 611.9p on Thursday. The settlement was reported after the London close, so the shares finished the session before the news emerged and the rise should not be put down to it. The previous eight sessions closed between 605.8p and 617.1p.

BP.LSE

BP said the remaining coastal zone lawsuits by Louisiana parishes will be resolved, without giving further details. BP spokesman Paul Takahashi said the terms of the coastal litigation agreement are confidential.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, said: “We have now disposed of claims and settled with all but one of the major defendants in these coastal cases.” The Louisiana Illuminator named the holdout as Chevron, in a Plaquemines Parish case.

The payment sits inside the 2015 settlement, under which BP agreed to pay up to $18.7bn to the federal government and five states. That includes $4.9bn payable over 18 years to resolve the states’ economic and other claims, and this deal retires part of that long tail.

On a nominal basis, $350m is about $23m less than the $373m Louisiana had been owed. BP said the sum is approximately $350m and accounts for more than 20% of its outstanding payments to the five states under the Economic Damages Settlement.

Line chart of BP's daily closing share price from 1 September to 23 October 2026, ending with a rise on Friday
BP share price, daily close, 1 September to 23 October 2026.

“This agreement with Louisiana accelerates the delivery of our commitments and provides the state with access to these funds now.”

Meg O’Neill, BP chief executive, in a company release

Landry also said, in part, “We have tackled legacy lawsuits, which many said was impossible.” Lafourche Parish President Mitch Orgeron said the faster payout means about $350m can go into coastal projects now rather than over seven years.

London markets are closed for the weekend, and BP shares next trade on Monday.

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