The deposition, which took place over the telephone between Lord Browne in London and victims' lawyer Brent Coon in Houston in April, came after a nearly two-year fight by the victims' lawyers to question him.

But Lord Browne denied all knowledge of safety lapses in the run-up to the explosion at Texas City three years ago which killed 15 people and injured more than 170, a newly-released transcript showed.

Instead, under questioning by Mr Coon, Lord Browne told how he had met President George Bush once, had discussed the oil industry with Vice-President Dick Cheney and had a "business-like relationship" with former prime minister Tony Blair. Asked about his friendships with Sir Elton John, Gwyneth Paltrow and Hugh Grant, Lord Browne said: "I don't regard those as friends. I have been acquainted with them. I have met them."

But when questioned further about his relationship with Sir Elton, he said: "I have been inside his apartment in Venice once."

In curt exchanges, Lord Browne also explained to the Texas-based lawyer that his full name was "Edmund John Phillip Browne, the Lord Browne of Madingley", and added: "I am also entitled to this - the address the 'right honourable' and the suffix 'knight'."

He also said he was unaware that his nickname was "Elf" but confirmed he had been dubbed the "Sun King". "There was a photograph of me appearing in front of the BP logo, which, when half obscured with a body, looks like a sun with rays," he said.

As to the 2005 explosion, Lord Browne was repeatedly asked about maintenance failures at the plant, but said: "I wasn't aware of that." He added that he had only ever visited Texas City twice, but that it looked the same as any other refinery.

"I didn't see that it was unusually - I didn't come away with an impression that is lasting with me that it was unusually different," he said. Asked about an internal document which suggested he was personally monitoring accident statistics at the plant because he knew of its poor safety performance, Lord Browne said: "Well, certainly to the best of my recollection, this is an inaccurate statement. I don't recall doing this."

But he admitted a survey of employees' worries at the site was "disturbing" and accepted responsibility for company-wide cutbacks which were blamed by some victims for falling safety standards.