BP largely blamed in US report on Deepwater

A KEY US report has laid much of the blame on BP for the massive Gulf of Mexico rig disaster last year.

The accident caused the worst offshore oil spill in US history and the deaths of 11 workers.

The report examined a cement seal on the well that was put in place the day before the explosion that triggered the spill.

It said that in the days leading up to the disaster, BP made a series of decisions that complicated cementing operations, increased risk, and may have contributed to the ultimate failure of the cement job.

Other companies also shared some of the blame, according to the report, which noted that rig owner Transocean, as owner of the Deepwater Horizon, was responsible for conducting safe operations and for protecting personnel onboard.

The details were contained in the final report from an investigation team of the US Coast Guard and the agency that regulates offshore drilling.

The panel held hearings in the year following the 20 April, 2010, tragedy. The report said flawed decisions included using only one cement barrier and BP’s choice to set the “production casing” in a location in the well that created additional risk of influx of oil or gas. The panel said BP failed to communicate these decisions and the increasing operational risks to Transocean. BP, Transocean and cement contractor Halliburton made no comment.