BP PLC said on Monday that its partners in the leaking Gulf of Mexico oil well must share responsibility for the costs in dealing with the disaster, on which BP said it has now spent $2 billion.
BP hit back at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, which has a 25 per cent stake in the gushing well, following Anadarko’s statement on Friday accusing BP of gross negligence in operating the drilling rig. BP shares were down 4 per cent in early trading in London at $5.12.
Anadarko said the joint operating agreement makes BP responsible to co-owners for any damage due to gross negligence or wilful misconduct. In a statement on Monday to the London Stock Exchange, BP countered that all the partners shared in liability for damage resulting from exploration in Mississippi Canyon Block 252.
“All the co-owners of the leasehold interest previously entered into a written operating agreement under which ... the parties would share the costs of operations, including the cost to clean up any spill resulting from drilling the MC252 exploratory well, according to their respective ownership interests,” BP said. It added that the co-owners had confirmed to the US federal government that they would be liable for oil spill cleanup costs. On Friday, Moody’s Investor Services downgraded Anadarko’s long-term debt, and placed the company’s ratings under review for further possible downgrades.
Anadarko had no employees on the well and was a non-operating partner in the project. A subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. Ltd. of Japan had a 10 per cent stake. BP’s share is 65 per cent. The rig was owned by Transocean Ltd. of Switzerland and operated by BP.
In a separate statement, BP said it has now spent $2 billion trying to stop the deep-water gusher, including $105 million for 32,000 damage claims. With no end yet in sight, costs will continue to rise. BP last week agreed to set up a $20 billion fund to compensate victims of the disaster on the US southern coast.
“Other parties besides BP may be responsible for costs and liabilities arising from the oil spill, and we expect those parties to live up to their obligations,” said BP chief executive Tony Hayward in the statement.