The allegations came in papers filed in the federal court in New Orleans.
They refer to the Deepwater Horizon rig, which had been leased by BP. It exploded on 20 April 2010, killing 11 workers and spilling millions of gallons of crude oil.
If the government can prove gross negligence it can triple the damages BP could have to pay to $21bn (£13bn).
The case is due to go to trial in New Orleans in January 2013, although talks are underway between BP and the US government to try to settle the claims.
"The behaviour, words, and actions of these BP executives would not be tolerated in a middling size company manufacturing dry goods for sale in a suburban mall," the government said in its 39-page filing.
BP has denied the claims. "BP believes it was not grossly negligent and looks forward to presenting evidence on this issue at trial in January," the company said in a statement.
Transocean, the Swiss-based company that owned the rig, declined to comment, the Reuters news agency said.
The legal filing said that errors made by BP and Transocean in deciphering a pressure test on the well supported the government's case.
"That such a simple, yet fundamental and safety-critical test could have been so stunningly, blindingly botched in so many ways, by so many people, demonstrates gross negligence," it said.
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