BP official tells NBC the oil spill isn't their fault!

[Better Believe It]

BP: Oil rig leak 'wasn't our accident'
CEO to NBC: We'll clean it up, but rig was run by Transocean
May 3, 2010

NEW ORLEANS - Facing an unprecedented Gulf Coast environmental disaster, not to mention lawsuits, oil giant BP told NBC on Monday that while it was taking responsibility for cleaning up the giant undersea leak, the accident that triggered the disaster was not its fault.

"It wasn't our accident, but we are absolutely responsible for the oil, for cleaning it up, and that's what we intend to do," BP Group CEO Tony Hayward told NBC's "TODAY" show.

The rig that exploded on April 20 and then sank was run by another company, Transocean, he reminded viewers. That rig, he said, "was run by their people, their processes."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36912754/ns/us_news-environment

[Captain Hilts]

1. And who does Transocean work for?????

[mediaman007]

2. I've noticed that there are a lot of players in the oil game. We

know the commercial players: Phillips, Exxon, BP, Shell. But they are supported by a multitude of corporations along the way. I think that BP is probably accurate in what they are saying. After all, in the end there will be no secrets.

[fascisthunter]

3. and again, corporations are not people

[Webster Green]

4. That's just stupid.

They've been trying to "green up" their image lately, but perhaps that's all they've been doing.

Didn't anyone think to require minimum safety standards on wells or platforms they were leasing to someone else.

C'mon now.

[arthritisR_US]

5. it wasn't my fault your honor, I was just driving the getaway car....n/t

[metapunditedgy]

6. Suppose the "responsibility" belongs to some small company that has limited assets.

Everybody makes a big show of bankrupting that operator, and BP goes on to make profits.

Sound a little bit like the financial meltdown?

[Fleshdancer]

7. ok BP, I'll play....

Sooo the explosion was the fault of a different company yet you are held liable for the disaster? That's a really stupid way of doing business, don't you think? Why was Transocean using "their processes" on YOUR rig? Why weren't you more aware? Why wouldn't you invest in the most up-to-date safety valves on your rig knowing that someone else was operating it? Very bad business decision BP.

Who is Transocean and why are we only hearing from BP? Looks like I'm due for a Google search now...

[TransitJohn]

10. It's not their rig, it's Transocean's.

They contracted it to sink a well. It works the same on land. Oil companies don't own rigs, unless they are state owned companies, like Saudi Aramco or Petrobras. The rig drills the well, as they were contracted to do, so he's right, BP didn't cause the accident, although they are liable to clean up the oil.

[Fleshdancer]

15. So BP owns the well and Transocean owns the rig?

I was out of town all weekend and am just now trying to understand the details of exactly how this happened.

According to wikipedia (weak source, I know), companies pay Transocean anywhere from $140,000 to $650,000 dollars per day for the rig, equipment and personnel. That's a ton of money for BP to still be saddled with the full liability of the rig going boom.

[godai]

16. BP leases the rig.

Looks like a scheme by oil companies to pass the buck when problems occur.

[TransitJohn]

17. its not a liability scam, it's a cheaper way of producing oil to market n/t

n/t

[godai]

18. Link? Please explain how it's cheaper n/t

[TransitJohn]

19. BPs not in the business of owning rigs and paying roughnecks

they're in the business of producing oil to market and selling it. I don't know how else I could explain it to you. I've worked a few contracts for them providing wellsite geoconsulting services, but they don't retain wellsite geoscientists either. I just think you don't know how business is done in the petroleum sector. It's all about providing oilfield services.

[Rex]

8. I agree to an extent, some of it is Halliburtons fault or so it sounds.

We all know who will get blamed ultimately - the working class.

[Dr. Strange]

12. I blame the teacher's union.

If this oil well hadn't had tenure, BP could have gotten rid of it long before this accident.

[Rex]

13. Oh they knew alright, just decided to ride it out until the thing blew.

Dam teachers union!

[PDJane]

9. Then why would they need to have people

sign contracts that would prevent them from suing BP?

Weasels.

[joeybee12]

11. And this is why we need to Conserve, Baby, Conserve! n/t

[lpbk2713]

14. "And Tony, you're doin' a heckuva job."

Sounds like Dumbya talking about his "non-response" to Katrina.

[butterfly77]

20. According to limpballs it our fault...and the rightwing nuts.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201005030035

http://mediamatters.org/research/201004300049