• 24
  • June
    2010

Of the statements made by oil company executives and politicians in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon offshore disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, perhaps one stands out above others: Texas Gov. Rick Perry's declaration that the catastrophic oil spill may be due to "an act of God."

When executives from the three companies most deeply mired in the problem of the Gulf testified before Congress in May, they pointed fingers at each other. Officials from BP, Halliburton and Transocean all tried to lay blame for the worst oil spill in U.S. history on one another.

BP leased the Deepwater Horizon oil rig from Transocean Ltd. for exploratory drilling about 50 miles southeast of Venice, LA. BP executives say Transocean's rig and its blowout protector failed, causing an explosion that killed 11 workers and unleashed an unstoppable gusher of oil one mile deep underwater.

Transocean points back to BP, saying the blame belongs with the operator of the rig.

Transocean executives also point at Halliburton, Inc., a BP subcontractor, which is alleged to have had the responsibility of encasing the well pipe in cement before plugging it.

Unsurprisingly, Halliburton executives say they were acting on BP's orders and therefore the blame belongs with the company formerly known as British Petroleum.

It's expected that all three companies will hedge against taking full responsibility -- and legal liability -- for the deaths, injuries and environmental damage caused by the unprecedented offshore oil rig disaster.

The reality of who will bear liability for the widespread damage to people, the environment, wildlife and Gulf industries will be determined in courts. In court the question of gross negligence as the cause of the April 20 explosion will be determined.

One thing we know for sure at this point is that there were no hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons or earthquakes anywhere near the Deepwater Horizon that day. As much as apologists for BP and the other involved companies might wish for it to be so, the "act of God" defense is not viable.