In a fundamental split between the two companies with lead responsibility for the well, a senor BP source told The Sunday Telegraph that Anadarko was "shirking its responsibilities", not accepting its liabilities and that legal action in the US was now likely to follow.  Anadarko, which has a 25pc stake in the well, signalled this weekend that it will refuse to pay up.  BP has already sent the company one demand for payment but, the BP source said, had yet to receive any costs for the multi-billion ­dollar clean-up operation.  Jim Hackett, Anadarko's chief executive, launched a damning attack on BP, the majority owner and operating partner, alleging there were signs of "gross negligence or wilful misconduct".  "The mounting evidence clearly demonstrates that this tragedy was preventable and the direct result of BP's reckless decisions and actions," said Mr Hackett. "BP's behaviour and action is likely represent gross negligence or wilful misconduct."  Mitsui, the 10pc owner of the well, has made no decision on whether to admit liability for its share of costs, but is likely to join Anadarko in its refusal to contribute. BP could then also take legal action against that company as well.  The deepening row over costs followed a call from US Congressman Edward Markey, saying Anadarko and Mitsui should be held accountable and set aside money to pay a share of claims tied to the spill. "They cannot escape responsibility," he said.  As the highest estimates for the total bill of the accident rose to between $30bn and $100bn, BP is understood to be adamant that the American and Japanese companies ­contribute their share. Their role in the well was purely financial and they had no operational responsibility.  A BP spokesman said the company strongly disagreed with Anadarko's claims.  "These allegations will neither distract the company's focus on stopping the leak nor alter our commitment to restore the Gulf coast," said BP's chief executive officer, Tony Hayward.  "Other parties besides BP may be responsible for costs and liabilities arising from the oil spill, and we expect those parties to live up to their obligations."  BP has established a $20bn fund to meet environmental compensation claims, but did not have discussions with its partners about how they would contribute.  "Although we have not been involved in any way with the White House or BP in the process, we are pleased that BP has agreed to establish a $20bn escrow fund," said John Christiansen, an Anadarko spokesman.  "We believe this action by BP is consistent with their ­continued message that they will pay all legitimate claims."  A Mitsui spokesman said: "With regard to the issue of the escrow account, drawing an immediate conclusion about the underlying matters at hand would be premature."  BP is selling the oil captured from the leak and donating the proceeds to charity, but neither Anadarko or ­ Mitsui will make a similar commitment.  Anadarko shares have dropped 43pc since the April 20 explosion that caused the spill, and Mitsui shares have declined 25pc, indicating that the market believes they will have to bear some costs.  However, their share prices have risen slightly from recent lows in mid-June on speculation that they will try to avoid having to pay for their share of costs.  The two companies have made few public statements on the accident until this point. Mitsui & Co, whose oil unit holds the stake in BP's field, has said that it has made no decisions on whether to take responsibility for the disaster.  "There are no negotiations," Shoei Utsuda, Mitsui's chairman, said at a press conference. "As far as I know, nothing has been decided."  BP has shouldered the majority of criticism from the US government about its role in the run-up to the leak.  Analysts are also getting restive about the uncertainty surrounding Anadarko and Mitsui because their involvement in paying claims would have a huge impact on BP's financial position.  "Investors still lack absolute clarity over whether the groups will share the cost of the spill," said Jonathan Jackson, head of equities at Killik, the City stockbroker. "The company stated it expected its partners to meet their obligations.  "However, BP hasn't had discussions with them and it is unclear whether it was legally allowed to enter into this agreement without the consent of its partners."  More than £56bn has now been wiped off BP's market value since the accident, which has created unprecedented anger in the US against the oil company.  This week, BP confirmed it would suspend its $10.5bn dividend and its chief executive, Tony Hayward, was accused of presiding over a "cavalier attitude" to risk during an eight-hour US political hearing.
Legal action aims to share clean-up costs as Anadarko is accused of 'shirking'    responsibilities over spill