A Norwegian judge has ruled at a courtoom outside Oslo that local survey outfit Arrow Seismic does not have to pay France-based counterpart CGG Veritas $70 million for an unfulfilled contract.

In the summer of 2008, it was alleged Arrow was legally bound to charter a survey vessel from CGG. Arrow, a business of Petroleum Geo-Services of Oslo, denied there were contractural obligations.

Wednesday’s ruling concluded their was no basis for claiming damages, and CGGV was ordered to pay Arrow’s legal costs. It’s not known whether CGG will appeal.

Expansion and then consolidation in the oilfield survey world has been marred by bitter legal battles in the past two years. Scandoil has covered all the key developments (see links below).

Tags: Arrow Seismic, CGGVeritas, PGS