Filed under Gulf of Mexico Spill Lawyers
By Rowena Mason, Energy Correspondent
Published: 8:09PM BST 09 Jul 2010
full article here
Anadarko, a 35pc partner in the well, on Friday refused to pay its $272m (£180m) bill outright claiming that BP’s actions “likely represent gross negligence or willful misconduct.”
“Although we have notified BP that we are withholding reimbursement to BP at this time, we remain committed to working with BP in good faith to achieve a satisfactory resolution,” an Anadarko spokesman said.
BP expressed “disappointment that they have failed to live up to their obligations. “Anadarko’s refusal to pay their share will in no way affect BP’s commitment to stop the leak, clean up the spill, and pay all legitimate claims as quickly as possible,” a spokesman added.
Mitsui, a 10pc partner, did not respond to BP’s request for $110m but said it had until July 12 to give an answer.
Both Mitsui and Anadarko, as co-owners of the well, could face legal action along with BP and contractors such as Transocean and Halliburton.
On Friday, Eric Holder, the US Attorney General, said the criminal investigation into the Gulf Coast oil spill may target more companies than simply BP.
“There are a variety of entities and a variety of people who are the subjects of that investigation,” Mr Holder said. “For people to conclude that BP is the focus of this investigation might not be correct.”
The news comes as BP confirmed that oil will tomorrow flow unchecked into the Gulf of Mexico once more, as it attempts to increase the amount being captured from its leaking well.
It will remove the current containment cap and replace it with another, more effective device. The energy major is attempting to raise the oil piped to the surface from 25,000 to 53,000 barrels and eventually up to 80,000.
Depending on the amount of oil gushing into the Gulf, the new cap could effectively contain all or most of the flow.
BP’s share price ended its four day winning stretch by closing down 2.2 at 364.8p.
Its market value has fallen from £123m to £68.5m since the Deepwater Horizon exploded, killing 11 men and triggering the leak on April 20.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama’s administration was last night considering ways to reinstate a ban on deepwater drilling that an appeal panel ruled was illegal on Thursday.
