Crime & Justice

Photos: Noble Drilling criminal sentencing

The Shell contractor that broke environmental and marine-safety laws during the oil giant's troubled 2012 drilling season was sentenced on Friday to pay $12.2 million in fines and community payments, to serve four years' probation and to undergo a company-wide environmental compliance program.

Noble Corp.'s senior vice president for operations, Bernie Wolford, entered eight guilty pleas on behalf of the company's U.S. unit and admitted that the government's allegations of violations aboard the Discoverer and Kulluk drill ships were true. U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline imposed the sentence, under terms of a plea agreement reached between federal prosecutors and the company and filed in court on Dec. 8.

Read more: Shell drilling contractor's sentence includes $12.2 million fine

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