Cutting Underwater Technologies sued Eni for payment on work removing an offshore oil production platform after the well was depleted. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that this removal work qualifies as an 'operation' under Louisiana's Oil Well Lien Act. This decision means subcontractors who perform decommissioning and removal work on oil platforms can file liens against the operator's property to secure payment, just like they can for drilling and production work.
Platform removal and decommissioning work is protected by Louisiana's Oil Well Lien Act—you can file a lien if the operator doesn't pay
The lien right applies even after a well stops producing, as long as the work is part of well operations