According to a new report by Transparency International, Exxon Mobil, Lukoil and CNOOC are all in the bottom group for transparency amongst the oil and gas majors.

Shell, BHP Billiton, Petrobas and Talisman Energy scored highly in the transparency stakes, with BP coming in amidst the middle group. According to Transparency International, lack of transparency in how companies operate, particularly in countries with weak standards of governance, can cause corruption and harm the poor. The organisation has said that oil companies should report more detail around moneys paid to governments for oil rights.