NEW ORLEANS, April 17 (Reuters) - The first phase of a trialto determine blame for BP Plc's 2010 Gulf of Mexico oilspill came to an end on Wednesday, with the judge allowing 80days for the determination of findings and conclusions.
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said he would allow 60 daysfor the filing of briefs, and then 20 more days for replybriefs, as all the parties work toward a September start of thesecond phase of the trial.
The Deepwater Horizon disaster, on April 20, 2010, killed 11people and caused the worst U.S. offshore spill.
The first phase was to determine blame between BP and itscontractors - rig owner Transocean Ltd and cementprovider Halliburton Co - as well as the level ofnegligence involved in the accident.
"I appreciate the fact that we were able to complete thistrial in two months rather than the three months everyoneprojected when this began," Barbier told the court in NewOrleans. "I know it's been demanding at times."
The first phase lasted just short of eight weeks.