The Times

By Christine Seib

12 October 2006

BP was dealt a double blow yesterday after it was forced to apologise for delays in handing over documents to a congressional committee and the oil giant’s chief executive was ordered to give evidence about a fatal refinery blast.

Lord Browne of Madingley, who on Tuesday escaped the prospect of giving a six-hour deposition as part of 52 federal compensation claims, was told yesterday that he must give evidence on a case to be heard next month in a Texas state court.

Lawyers for Eva Rowe, who lost both parents in the blast, want Lord Browne to be quizzed in his London office on whether cost cutting at the Texas City refinery led to an explosion in March last year that killed 15 people and injured more than 170.

BP said that it would appeal against the order by State District Judge Susan Criss. “Lord Browne doesn’t have unique knowledge about the incident and senior executives have been assisting the plaintiffs with questions they have already,” a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday demanded to know why BP had not told it about a 2001 order by Alaskan state regulators to check on sediment in the oil pipelines at Prudhoe Bay. Corrosion in a pipe on the western side of the Prudhoe Bay oilfield caused at least 200,000 gallons of crude to spill in March. Tests in August caused the shutdown of half of the field after they revealed further corrosion.