BP trial showing the world that Big Oil cannot be trusted | Stuart H. Smith

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Stuart H. Smith:

Like a lot of you, I’ve been keeping a close eye on what is happening with the BP civil trial here in New Orleans. As I wrote last week, the airing of what really happened on the Deepwater Horizon rig in April 2010 — in a case that many of us never thought would ever come to trial — has been a Godsend of vital information for the American public. I applaud the U.S. Justice Department for pushing this case forward, to prove what we’ve all known from Day One, which is that British Petroleum, with aid from rig owner Transocean and main contractor Halliburton, is guilty of gross negligence, leading to the spill of millions of barrels of oil.

In Week One of testimony before U.S. District Justice Carl Barbier, there has been one theme that has been successfully hammered home again and again and again — that corners were continually cut, and that safety always took a back seat to the almighty dollar, even in an industry that rakes in tens of billions of dollars in profit every quarter. And when they realized what they had done, they desperately tried to cover their tracks. Here is just one example:

BP’s false assertions that only 5,000 barrels of oil were flowing from its Macondo well in May 2010 resulted in the use of at least one method to attempt to stem the flow that was doomed to fail, says a motion filed in federal court Friday by attorneys for Transocean, the owner of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. In its motion, Transocean argues it should not be subject to damages for as much as 60 days of the 87-day spill because of BP’s falsifications..........

FULL ARTICLE: BP trial showing the world that Big Oil cannot be trusted | Stuart H. Smith

Is the US Gulf oil spill issue truly settled?

British oil giant BP has agreed to compensate thousands of victims but many key issues remain unresolved.

Inside Story Americas 

Last Modified: 06 Mar 2012 10:16

It was the worst oil spill in US history.

Over the course of 87 days, nearly five million barrels of crude oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in April 2010.

The impact on the environment was devastating - both for the people living along the coastline of the Gulf states as well as for the $3bn fishing industry there.

"All along the way BP has done the right thing, has stepped up to the plate. To their credit and to the credit of [all those involved] one will find that everybody gets compensated in a fair manner. It's not that BP has unlimited resources to provide … this was a mistake. This was accidental. This was not purposeful action on their part." - Randa Fahmy Hudome, a former Halliburton representative

Late last week, the British oil giant BP agreed to pay out an estimated $7.8bn to settle a lawsuit with more than a 120,000 victims of the disaster. 

 A trial to determine blame has been postponed. But settlements will not be universally welcomed around the Gulf. Many still want to see BP, Transocean and Halliburton held to account in court.

 And, whatever the outcome some important issues still remain unanswered.  

Firstly, the health impact of the chemical dispersants - more than eight million litres - that were used to break up the oil spill is still unknown. 

Secondly, there is the environmental damage. While the oil may have visibly cleared from the Gulf, it may be years before ecologists know the full impact of the spill.

FOR THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE: Is the US Gulf oil spill issue truly settled?