As BP PLC’s costs for the disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill climb to just over US$3 billion, the British oil giant is billing partners Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and Japan’s Mitsui for their shares of the cleanup.
BP has billed Anadarko, a 25-per cent stakeholder in the blown-out well, for more than a quarter billion dollars so far. It also has reportedly billed Mitsui, a 10-per cent partner, for $111 million.
“They are partners in the field, and as responsible partners we would expect them to bear some of the costs,” BP spokeswoman Sheila Williams said.
Anadarko, based in The Woodlands, Tex., said in a statement that it is reviewing the $272.2 million bill sent last week and “assessing our contractual remedies.” Anadarko CEO Jim Hackett argued last month that his company should be excluded from paying for the spill due to BP’s “reckless decisions and actions” in its handling of the well. Hackett called BP out for its failure to “react to several critical warning signs” as it drilled below the sea floor.
Calls to Mitsui & Co. for comment weren’t returned.
BP said Monday it has spent $3.12 billion so far in response to the spill, including attempting to contain oil, paying claims and reimbursing the U.S. and local governments. That’s up from $2.65 billion a week earlier. The figure does not include a $20 billion fund for Gulf damages that London-based BP created last month.