There are numerous shortcomings in the conclusions of BP's internal investigation into the causes of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, according to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

During public interviews with BP staff held earlier this week, the NAE pointed to a catalogue of failings in the company's report, with suggestions of scapegoating prominent among them.

While blame for the numerous operational failures which caused the spill was apportioned in large part to Transocean, Halliburton and Weatherford, the NAE criticised BP for not investigating the systemic causes of the accident, such as training deficiencies and poor managerial oversight.

Mark Zoback, a Stanford University geophysicist who serves on the NAE investigative panel, also noted that poor well design, rather than the various purported operational failures of subcontractors, may yet be found to have caused the spill, once again placing culpability for the event at BP's door.

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