A US federal judge ruled this week that BP’s maximum fine under America's Clean Water Act for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will be £9billion, far lower than the US governments previous estimate of £11.6billion.

BP had argued that 2.4million barrels had been spilled but Federal magistrate Carl Barbier found that 3.19million barrels had been spilled into the ocean, higher that what BP had stated but still far lower than the US government’s estimate of 4.09million barrels. The figure is important as the US government have argued that the oil giant should pay as much as £2850 per barrel in fines. 

The third phase of BP’s non-jury trial begins Tuesday, when lawyers will argue over the exact fine per barrel. After that point, the actual fine will be assigned.

A spokesman for BP said "BP believes that considering all the statutory penalty factors together weighs in favour of a penalty at the lower end of the statutory range."

The Clean Water Act penalties will come on top of more than £27billion the oil major has set aside or spent for clean-up, compensation and fines.