Oil giant BP today accused oil service giant Halliburton of failing to take responsibility for its role in the Gulf of Mexico Macondo disaster after the US firm filed a lawsuit against it.
Halliburton said it was suing BP in a Texas state court for “negligent misrepresentation, business disparagement and defamation” in relation to last year’s spill.
Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon rig had exploded following a blowout, killing 11 people.
In a statement, Halliburton said it had also moved to amend its claims against BP in the multi-district litigation in New Orleans, Louisiana, to include fraud.
It said this was based on its claim BP had provided Halliburton with inaccurate information prior to performing cementing services the day before the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded.
The firm said: “Halliburton remains confident that all the work it performed with respect to the Macondo well was completed in accordance with BP’s specifications for its well construction plan and instructions, and that Halliburton is fully indemnified under the contract.”
However, a spokesman for BP said: “We believe this lawsuit is the latest attempt by Halliburton to divert attention from its role in the Deepwater Horizon tragedy and its failure to meet its responsibilities, and to deflect all blame to BP.
“We have accepted responsibility for our role in the disaster, and are paying costs and compensation.
“In contrast Halliburton has refused to take any responsibility or accountability at all.
“As we have said repeatedly, we expect other parties to accept their responsibilities and bear their share of the costs.”
The spokesman said BP was now reviewing the law suit and could not comment on it in detail but that should it go to court the firm would “vigorously contest the claims”.
A number of investigations have already been carried out into the disaster. Transocean’s said the cause was a succession of failures.
An investigation commissioned by President Barack Obama concluded the incident was down to “separate risk factors, oversights and outright mistakes by multiple parties”.