The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

An internal BP report released today blames itself for the Gulf oil spill. However, they also blame several others, including Transocean and Halliburton. The 193-page report was released on their website, which claims there were many failures that combined to cause the oil rig Deep Horizon to explode, burn, and sink, which then set off the largest oil spill in U.S. history. However, investigators are still analyzing the blowout preventer and have not come to the same conclusions as BP. Big surprise there.

According to Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the congressional panel that is investigating the spill, BP mentions eight key findings, but only takes responsibility for "half of one." Some of the findings include:

• Employees and engineers of Transocean misinterpreted a pressure test of the well's integrity
  
• Employees on the rig did not respond to warning signs that there was about to be a blow out
  
• The cement job Halliburton did at the bottom of the well was done poorly, causing oil and gas to leak out
  

This report has obviously raised the ire of Transocean who claim BP is attempting to conceal the real reason the rig exploded, namely that the well design of BP's was "fatally flawed." Transocean also says BP cut costs, which increased the risk. In addition to Transocean, special counsel for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist claim the report shows that BP will likely try to spread the blame as much as possible to avoid having to pay all the claims and government penalties.

An attorney in New Orleans, who represents the relatives of one of the workers killed, says there is not a "smoking gun" in the report and that the list of BP's findings has already been discussed.

Shortly after the report was made public, BP's shares increased two percent. Blame and finger pointing seems to be good business sense these days.

If you or a loved one has a legitimate oil spill claim, please contact the experienced oil spill attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.