{
  "id": 11637063,
  "title": "Halliburton rules out Sea Lion after Argentina raised criminal and civil enforcement",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/halliburton-rules-out-sea-lion-after-argentina-raised-criminal-and-11637063",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-03T06:56:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MercoPress",
    "slug": "mercopress-en",
    "url": "https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/03/halliburton-rules-out-sea-lion-after-argentina-raised-criminal-and-civil-enforcement"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Halliburton, a US oilfield services company, has announced it will not participate in the Sea Lion project or any hydrocarbon exploration or production in or around the Falkland Islands due to Argentina's potential criminal and civil enforcement actions. The company disclosed this information in Houston, following its contact with the Argentine Federal Authority. This comes after Argentina's government introduced a sovereignty bill into Congress on September 18, extending prohibitions to all natural resources on the continental shelf. Halliburton's decision aligns with statements made by its Argentine subsidiaries following SLB, formerly Schlumberger. The three companies are among the world's largest oilfield services firms. Halliburton acknowledged respecting the sovereignty of the Argentine Republic but did not comment on Argentine media reports suggesting warnings could bar companies from operating in Vaca Muerta, the country's primary unconventional hydrocarbon formation. Sea Lion, 220 km north of the archipelago, is being developed by Israel's Navitas and Britain's Rockhopper, with drilling scheduled to commence in early 2027. Rockhopper has confirmed its intent to proceed with the project. The United Kingdom maintains the activity's legitimacy under the archipelago's legislation and has offered guidance to companies facing pressure from third countries. Argentina currently has 60 administrative proceedings open, three criminal complaints against ten companies, and has announced international arbitration against the United Kingdom, though none of the allegations have been proven.",
  "summary": "US oilfield services company Halliburton confirmed on Friday that neither it nor its subsidiaries will work on the Sea Lion project or take part in hydrocarbon exploration or production in or around the Falklands, after Argentine authorities raised the prospect of criminal and civil enforcement.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MercoPress",
        "title": "Halliburton rules out Sea Lion after Argentina raised criminal and civil enforcement",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/halliburton-rules-out-sea-lion-after-argentina-raised-criminal-and",
        "published": "2026-10-03T06:56:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}