Folks, I've had a considerable response to my original message, which I posted to the grvmag, SEGmin and geophysics lists, plus some personally addressed messages. Very broadly, the lists cover petroleum exploration, mineral exploration and environmental and geotechnical work respectively, with significant overlap. Some of the replies went back on the lists and you've seen those. Quite a lot more came to me directly and I even had a couple of phone calls. Many thanks to all responders. To summarise, for the benefit of the cross-subject information: 1. Petroleum exploration. PII unnecessary and never required by clients. They recognise the non-unique nature of the problem. Limited company protection was thought helpful, though. "Best endeavours" clauses are in wide use in contracts. 2. Mineral exploration. Ditto. Additional comments were that insurance was only going to attract lawsuits, and once again, limited company protection is worthwhile. 3. Environmental and geotechnical. This is traditionally litigious territory and it shows.... Seems to be required quite widely and thought necessary by many. Sometimes possible to get the client to include you on their policy for small jobs. Sometimes possible to shelter within a larger environmental group for a particular job. Sometimes tell the client the price will be higher if he wants PII and they drop the requirement. Occasionally big jobs have unlimited liability X-Mozilla-Status: 0009nly be considered by major firms. We all hope that trend goes away.... Shopping around is very worthwhile. Factors of 10 or more in premiums seem to exist. Appropriate coverage seems to be USD 2 million or GBP 1 million. Now you all know. Best regards and thanks again. This would be a good time to terminate this thread, I think...... -- Alan B Reid PhD Reid Geophysics 49 Carr Bridge Drive Leeds LS16 7LB UK Phone: +(44)-113-261-0252 Fax: +(44)-113-293-0062 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.reidgeophys.freeserve.co.uk _______________________________________________________ List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
