Unocal Award in Gas Patent Suit Stands

Unocal Corp. said five rival oil companies must pay it about $91 million after a federal appeals court in Los Angeles upheld its patent on a cleaner-burning form of gasoline used in California. The companies are Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., Texaco Inc., Shell Oil Co. and Atlantic Richfield Co. A federal jury in Los Angeles found in late 1997 that the defendants had infringed Unocal’s patent for reformulated gasoline. Unocal was awarded damages amounting to about $69 million. The award now stands at about $91 million, including interest and attorney’s fees. Shares of El Segundo-based Unocal closed up $1.50 at $28.94 on the New York Stock Exchange.