The first trial into the fatal Texas City refinery blast that tarnished the reputation of BP and Lord Browne, its former chief executive, is due to begin today in the US after a jury was selected last night.

Barring last minute settlements, opening statements into the trial to hear five lawsuits filed by four injured contract workers and the estate of a fifth who committed suicide will be made in a Texas courtroom.

Jim Galbraith, BP's attorney, told a jury pool of more than 200 people yesterday that the energy giant had never denied responsibility for the blast, but insisted it was not the result of gross negligence.

He added: “March 23, 2005, is without doubt the worst day of [BP’s] presence in our community. It was definitely a tragedy. It was an explosion that no one saw coming.”

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More than 1,350 lawsuits into the accident, which killed 15 and injured more than 170 others two years ago, have so far been settled before making it to trial.

BP has already set aside $1.6 billion (£800 million) to pay claims arising from the blast.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that BP placed profits over safety at the refinery.

The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, one of several agencies that investigated the accident, attacked the oil giant for fostering bad management at the plant. It added that cost-cutting moves by BP were factors in the explosion.

The fallout from the blast has contributed to one of the worst spells in BP’s history, including a series of pipeline problems at its Prudhoe Bay field in Alaska and accusations of price-fixing levelled at traders in its US business.

Over the summer John Manzoni left as chief executive of BP’s refining and marketing business, despite being cleared by an internal investigation.

Lord Browne, who resigned in May after being found guilty of lying to a High Court judge, said the blast was the “saddest and darkest day of my working life at BP”.

However, speaking at his last Annual General Meeting in April, Lord Browne added that he hoped the group would be given some credit for working to put things right.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs claim their clients have suffered a variety of injuries following Texas City, including back problems, hearing loss and post traumatic stress disorder.

The estate of Rene Cardona Snr argue that the 26-year old contract worker committed suicide six weeks after the blast because of emotional trauma.

The explosion occurred when part of the plant’s isomerisation unit, which boosts the level of octane in gasoline, overfilled with highly flammable liquid hydrocarbons.

A geyser-like release of flammable liquid and vapour ignited as the unit started up.

Alarms and gauges that should have warned staff failed to work.

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