BP wins approval to resume drilling in Gulf of Mexico

BP has won approval to resume drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, 18 months after a well blowout killed 11 workers and caused an environmental disaster.

Regulators approved plans for drilling to depths of up to 6,000ft about 200 miles off the coast of New Orleans.

US officials said in a statement: "Our review of BP's plan included verification of BP's compliance with the heightened standards."

The Gulf's Kaskida oilfield could contain up to 3bn barrels of crude.   More Read