BP Partner Won't Pay $272M Bill

Anadarko Petroleum is refusing to pay the $272 million dollar bill sent by BP stemming from the costs of cleaning up the oil spill gushing from the busted Macondo oil well, in which Anadarko owns a 25 percent nonoperating stake. Anadarko accuses BP of “negligence” or “willful misconduct”—something the company says it’s not responsible for. In June, BP sharply disagreed when Anadarko said its business partner should take on all the costs of the spill. Japanese company Mitsui has a 10 percent stake in the well and has not responded to a $111 million bill from BP. Meanwhile, BP has yet another plan to plug the leak. Taking advantage of good weather, BP said Friday it would start working on a new cap for the well. The new cap would take at least five days to install, and temporarily cause more oil to spew into the Gulf, but would finally stop the flow once it is in place.