Oil-Rig Companies: Not Our Fault

Can’t we hold them all responsible? The three oil-rig companies testifying before the Senate on Tuesday each blamed the others for the disaster currently polluting the Gulf of Mexico. BP pointed the finger at Transocean, which was in charge of installing the blowout protector; Transocean’s CEO, Steven Newman, said that things “begin and end with the operator, in this case BP,” and also fingered Halliburton, which was in charge of encasing the well pipe in cement. Halliburton executive Tim Probert tried to deflect that blame onto BP, saying that his company’s work was done “in accordance with the requirements” dictated by BP.