BP faces escalating spill payouts after court ruling

LONDON, March 7 (Reuters) - BP must keep payingcertain types of oil spill compensation in much larger amountsand to more parties than it was expecting, according to a courtruling this week, which could add billions of dollars to itsfinal bill.

The March 5 ruling, made by the New Orleans court where itis battling to keep a lid on other fines and penalties, wasoutlined in BP's annual report. It widens the gulf between thecompany and those ranged against it inside and outside thecourt. BP said it would appeal.