Anadarko Tries Force Majeure Claim On Diamond Offshore

Anadarko Petroleum

, one of the largest U.S. independent oil and natural gas producers, canceled a contract with drilling services provider Diamond Offshore

for a rig in the Gulf of Mexico, claiming force majeure due to the government's moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf. Anadarko has sought a judgment in federal court in Houston confirming that its cancellation of the pact is warranted, according to the Wall Street Journal. Diamond Offshore said Anadarko doesn't have the grounds for a force majeure claim and that it plans to "vigorously" fight the claim. Diamond Offshore has already had several contracts canceled since the moratorium was imposed, forcing the company to move rigs out of the Gulf to other locations to try to recoup lost revenue. The contract called for Anadarko to lease the Ocean Monarch rig from Diamond Offshore at a day rate of $440,000. The rig was supposed to drill at depths of 10,000 feet and the contract was expected to last until March 2013, according to OilSlick.com.