Anadarko wages bitter war over Macondo well claims
A BITTER legal feud between BP and its Deepwater Horizon partner Anadarko Petroleum is developing after the latter declared it would not pay out claims linked to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
BP said yesterday that it had not made a decision on whether it will sue Anadarko, which it partnered with to co-own the leasehold in the Macondo well, and said it “strongly disagrees” with allegations that it acted recklessly.
A statement from BP chief executive Tony Hayward said: “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.”
Anadarko, which had a 25 per cent stake in the damaged well, said late last week that it would not accept responsibility for the catastrophe based on BP’s “reckless decisions and actions”.
Chairman and chief executive Jim Hackett said: “We recognize that ultimately we have obligations under Federal law related to the oil spill, but will look to BP to continue to pay all legitimate claims as they have repeatedly stated that they will do.” The Texas based production company last week had its credit ratingslashed by Moody’s to Ba1 from Baa3.