Lawyers for Husky Energy will return to court in January to answer to charges in connection with the largest oil spill in the history of the province’s offshore.

Husky is facing three charges stemming from the incident which occurred three years ago, as crews in the White Rose field were preparing to restart production, which had been suspended due to stormy weather.

It’s estimated 250,000 litres of oil spilled into the ocean from a leak in a flowline to the SeaRose FPSO, about 350 kilometres southeast of St. John’s.

Husky is accused of causing or allowing the spill to occur, failing to ensure an immediate work stoppage to avoid further pollution, and starting up again before ensuring it was environmentally safe to do so.

The spill has been blamed on a faulty connector with underwater cables to the FPSO, but questions were also raised about the speed with which Husky restated operations.

In provincial court this week, the case was postponed until January 14, as the defence gathers more disclosure from the Crown.