Southern Natural Gas has agreed to pay ARCO Oil and Gas more than $ 300 million for damages resulting from an explosion November 19 , 1989 on an ARCO drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico . The blast and resulting fire occurred when subcontractors hired by SNG tried to make repairs and cut into the pipeline that transported gas to shore . Getty Oil Co. Texaco agreed to settle the case for $3 billion in 1988. Seven people were killed and 23 injured , and the platform was destroyed . SNG , which bought gas from ARCO , made no admission of guilt but agreed to pay $ 300.5 million and a total of $ 500,000 to three other employees injured in the explosion .
Southern Natural Gas has agreed to pay ARCO Oil and Gas more than $ 300 million for damages resulting from an explosion November 19 , 1989 on an ARCO drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico . The blast and resulting fire occurred when subcontractors hired by SNG tried to make repairs and cut into the pipeline that transported gas to shore . Seven people were killed and 23 injured , and the platform was destroyed . SNG , which bought gas from ARCO , made no admission of guilt but agreed to pay $ 300.5 million and a total of $ 500,000 to three other employees injured in the explosion .