US oil and gas sector facing insurance challenges

The market has hardened significantly, but there are strategies energy companies can employ to mitigate its impact

The US domestic energy insurance sector has faced significant difficulties in recent years—including nuclear verdicts, rising inflation rates, natural disasters, environmental concerns and the impact of Covid-19. These challenges have created a hard insurance market for oil and gas companies. Nuclear verdicts—a term for exceptionally high jury awards—have been one of the major factors. Attorneys have been successful in persuading juries on claims of company negligence in various sectors, including oil and gas, resulting in huge payouts. This has led to a growing trend in liability risk and costs, also known as ‘social inflation’. Small-to-medium-size businesses have been particularly affecte