"A Belle Chasse marine contractor given the job of stopping a 14-year-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is defending itself against a lawsuit alleging it’s unqualified for the work and may cause more environmental damage.

The Couvillion Group was selected by the U.S. Coast Guard to contain a leak at the site of Taylor Energy’s damaged MC20 Saratoga oil platform. On Thursday (Dec. 20), Taylor Energy filed a federal lawsuit in New Orleans asking the court to toss out a recent Coast Guard order to contain the leak. Containing the leak is unnecessary and could cost the Taylor Energy up to $1 billion, the oil company’s representatives said. In a surprise move, Taylor Energy also sued the Couvillion Group, alleging the contractor is unfamiliar with the site’s “lengthy and complex history.” Taylor Energy threatened to hold the Couvillion Group responsible for any additional releases of oil during containment work.

Couvillion Group CEO Timmy Couvillion said on Friday (Dec. 21) that subsea oil cleanup and containment is “nothing new” for his company."

Tristan Baurick reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune December 21, 2018. [2]