HE DID IT. NO, HE DID IT. NO, HE DID IT

From NOLA.com:

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held hearings on the the explosion of BP's Horizon rig to question the top company executives about what caused the explosion that killed 11 workers and led to the oil leak that no one seems to know how to stop.

At both hearings, BP America President and Chairman Lamar McKay said the failure of the blowout preventers owned by rig operator Transocean had to be considered as a possible cause.

Steven Newman, CEO and president of Transocean Limited, said the blowout preventers "were clearly not the root cause," suggesting they might have been damaged by debris from cement barriers installed by Halliburton just before the accident.

Tim Probert, Halliburton's president of Global Business lines, said the company had followed BP directions, and noted that the drilling contractor "used seawater for the final cement plug," which some industry officials said is unusual.

All three executives emphasized, however, that it is much too early to determine a precise cause.

Same as ever.




Thanks to Ann for the cartoon.