The definition of "petroleum" was front and center in a lawsuit about compensation related to an oil and gas partnership agreement. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) had been converted to derivative products, sold at world market prices; however, a consultant's override was based on sales revenues from downstream products. Expert opinions based on a working knowledge of petroleum production contracts, natural gas processing and LPG production, and other derivative products helped facilitate a settlement.

Ground disturbance and excavation are sure ways to uncover hidden underground hazards; however, it is far safer to establish the location of buried installations prior to opening an excavation. After an excavation trencher struck an underground natural gas pipeline, the injured heavy equipment operator claimed the buried pipeline had not been properly identified and marked. Baker & O'Brien reported on responsibilities for marking the pipeline, and which party had the regulatory compliance responsibility for safe execution of the work.

The responsibility for damages pursuant to an offshore oil and gas production platform explosion and fire resulted in a dispute between the insurers regarding cause and origin. Baker & O'Brien was engaged to test two different expert opinions developed during the incident investigation through a review of cited evidence and extensive operating records. Following an open pre-mediation expert conference and supplementary written reports, the dispute was quickly resolved in an international mediation.