Despite being hounded by the Russian authorities on charges of developing a Siberian field in violation of Russian law, the BP Plc-led TNK-BP has denied allegations it will be forced to cease work in the Samotlor field in Western Siberia.

In a statement a TNK-BP spokesperson said, "We are going through a routine procedure of updating a field development plan for the Samotlor field."

"At meetings with regulatory bodies in April, and again earlier this week, state officials had found no violations of the plan under which TNK-BP is currently developing the field," added the spokesperson who provided no further details.

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