New Telegraph 
An indigenous offshore oil and gas company, General Hydrocarbons Limited (GHL) has secured restraining orders against Dolphin Drilling Ltd and DD Offshore West African Ltd concerning dispute over the Blackford Dolphin Rig.
The restraining orders made by Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court in Lagos stopped Dolphin Drilling and DD Offshore West African Ltd, their agents, servants, privies or anybody acting on their behalf from removing, demobilising or decommissioning the Blackford Dolphin rig from the field of GHL pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed contemporaneously.
The court also restrained the two firms from interfering with the rights of GHL under the contract for the use of the rig.
GHL took Dolphin Drilling to court asking that it fulfil its contractual obligations, which was affected by technical challenges with it’s BOP system on the Blackford Dolphin rig.
In the suit, GHL argued that Dolphin
Drilling breached the terms of the side letter when its Blow-out Prevention (BOP) System failed a performance test. Dolphin Drilling then served a defective notice of termination and attempted to demobilise the Blackford Dolphin rig.
At the last hearing of the matter, Dolphin Drilling through its lawyer failed in its attempt to discharge the restraining order.
GHL also won its request for an emergency arbitrator to be appointed by the court. The judge ruled that appointment of an emergency arbitrator will be made within 24 hours, while other motions will be considered next week.
