Anadarko refuses to pay BP for spill

Anadarko Petroleum, due soon to make a decision about drilling off New Zealand, says it will not help BP pay for the worst oil spill in United States history.

The Houston company, which owns 25 per cent of BP's blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico, said at the weekend it had refused to send the US$272 million ($382 million) contribution that BP requested.

The company believes it should be excused from payments because of BP's "reckless" handling of the failed deepwater operation.

Anadarko and Australia's Origin Energy must late next month decide whether to drill in deep water off the South Island.

Late last month Anadarko, which would operate any rig, said its involvement in the Gulf of Mexico disaster had not affected its assessment work in the Canterbury Basin.

- AP, staff reporter