Rig owner: BP held back 'critical' spill data

The company that owned the oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico has accused BP of withholding critical evidence needed to investigate the cause of the worst offshore spill in US history, it emerged today.

The new complaint by Transocean was revealed in a confidential document obtained by The Associated Press. BP called the claims a publicity stunt.

It follows similar complaints by US politicians about difficulties obtaining necessary information from BP in their investigations.

In a sternly-worded letter to BP’s lawyers, Transocean said the oil giant had in its sole possession information key to identifying the cause “of the tragic loss of 11 lives and the pollution in the Gulf of Mexico”.

BP’s refusal to turn over the documents had hampered Transocean’s investigation and hindered what it had been able to tell families of the dead and state and government investigators about the accident, the letter said.

BP and Transocean appear likely to have a court battle over how much each should pay out for the tragedy.

Transocean owned the Deepwater Horizon, the rig that exploded and sank on April 20, killing 11 workers and unleashing millions of gallons of oil. BP was the operator and majority owner of the well.

BP spokeswoman Elizabeth Ashford said Transocean’s accusations were misleading and misguided.

“We have been at the forefront of co-operating with various investigations commissioned by the US government and others into the causes of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy,” she said.

“Our commitment to co-operate with these investigations has been and remains unequivocal and steadfast.”

In a biting response early today, BP told Transocean in a letter that its claims were “nothing more than a publicity stunt evidently designed to draw attention away from Transocean’s potential role in the Deepwater Horizon tragedy”.

In the dispute over documents, Transocean said that BP released limited records only after the company agreed to sign a confidentiality agreement at BP’s request.

“This is troubling, both in light of BP’s frequently stated public commitment to openness and a fair investigation, and because it appears that BP is withholding evidence in an attempt to prevent any entity other than BP from investigating the cause of the April 20 incident and the resulting spill,” the letter said.

Copies of the letter were also sent to government agencies, commissions and politicians investigating the spill’s cause.

Aides for some of those politicians said today that they too had had had trouble obtaining information from BP.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee had a “stare down” with BP over some of the data it was seeking, said Bill Wicker, a spokesman for committee chairman Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat.

BP requested that congressional staffers sign a non-disclosure agreement. The committee refused, telling the company that it would send all BP’s information back. Since then, BP had been forthcoming with data, Mr Wicker said.

Rep Edward Markey, a Democrat and chairman of the House of Representatives’ energy and environment sub-committee, said his staff also had difficulty “prying information” out of BP.

“I am not surprised Transocean – which may end up in litigation against BP in the future – is encountering similar difficulties,” he said.

President Barack Obama warned months ago that companies involved in the accident needed to work together and with the government on the investigation, saying: “I will not tolerate more finger-pointing or irresponsibility.”

Retired US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the government’s point man on the Gulf oil spill, said he was not aware of Transocean’s letter and could not comment on it.

Asked if BP has withheld any information vital to the government, Admiral Allen said, “None that I am aware of.”

According to Transocean, BP has rebuffed at least seven of its requests for information. And while BP had turned over some documents, it had not provided Transocean with any information since June 21 and has not even acknowledged the company’s requests since August 3, the letter said.

Transocean said that the limited information it retrieved from BP came only after the company reluctantly signed a confidentiality agreement.

“Despite our reservations, we agreed to BP’s condition of secrecy because there is no other source of key well data,” the letter said.

Transocean wants 16 pieces of technical information from BP, including pressure tests, logs and other data.