After a year in which it suffered the biggest-ever spill at its Alaskan oilfield and then had to shut half of it for "severe corrosion", one might assume that BP would be carefully tending its image in the state.

The company, however, has angered state legislators by insisting on $11m (£5.6m) in tax breaks under new rules that allow deducting the cost of replacing pipelines. The legislators said BP replaced one of its pipelines only because it was corroded after being poorly maintained and so should not get a write-off.