BP said US regulators were considering filing charges against it related to trading in the gas market.

"The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) are currently investigating several BP entities regarding trading in the next-day natural gas market at Houston Ship Channel during October and November 2008," BP said today.

The FERC's enforcing body is now mulling whether to pursue charges against BP, which was prosecuted on propane market manipulation charges in 2006. BP paid around $300 million to settle those charges.

The news comes as BP is struggling to rebuild its business and reputation in the United States after causing the US's worst-ever oil spill last year in the Gulf of Mexico.

Reuters