BP failed to comply with emergency oil spill regulations at four of its five North Sea oil and gas installations, according to a report obtained by the Financial Times.

The paper made a request to the Department of Energy and Climate Change using Freedom of Information legislation, and reports that the energy agency cited BP for failing to train staff adequately at four of its North Sea platforms in 2009.

The report comes as BP faces fierce criticism for its operational safety record in the US following the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

However, the Financial Times reports that Royal Dutch Shell also received citations from the energy department for failing to comply with emergency training regulations.

Of the 27 rigs in the North Sea owned by the Dutch supermajor, five were found to be in breach of emergency response training standards.

In its internal report into the Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP cited a catalogue of contributing faults and failures, and recommended an increased focus on training and development to ensure improved oversight across all operations.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development