A BP spokesman said the company would have no comment.

Bloomberg also reported that a BP spokesman said that the company had no plan to review its reserve numbers.

"To be frank, the offer of help from all quarters is welcome," said David Nicholas, a BP spokesman.

"We believe in our hearts that these events are unrelated," a BP spokesman, Scott Dean, said.

A BP spokesman would not comment on the latest claims, but said: "The Russian courts have so far found in our favour."

A BP spokesman said that the company was taking no action to seek alternative methods of transport until events in Panama became clearer.

A BP spokesman in London declined to comment.

A BP spokesman said that there had been a minor leak in the gas lift module which had been isolated.

Andrew Gowers, a BP spokesman, said "there is no change in the position" of retaining the dividend.

'Some people said they were fund managers but we can't really be sure,' says a BP spokesman, darkly.