BP CEO Tony Hayward: Don't Blame Me

By: Daniel Carty
Topics: In The News

The first phase of BP CEO Tony Hayward's testimony before a House panel was marked by claims of being "deeply sorry" and "personally devastated" by the environmental calamity that has unleashed millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The catch phrase of phase two was decidedly different: "I was not part of the decision-making process," he stated as lawmakers peppered him over alleged safety shortcuts that contributed to the deadly explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig 59 days ago (watch the video at left).

The often terse exchanges with members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce subcommittee were notable more for what Hayward didn't say, frustrating lawmakers looking for specific answers about the company's decisions leading up to the disaster from the man in charge of the oil giant.

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Asked by subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bart Stupak whether the company had reached any conclusions about the causes of the accident, Hayward said the "investigation is ongoing."

"You have not reached a conclusion that BP cut corners?" asked Stupak.

"I think it's too early to reach conclusions, Mr. Chairman," Hayward replied.

Faced with more non-answers from Hayward on the company's safety performance, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said he was "amazed at this testimony."

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"You're not taking responsibility, Mr. Hayward. ... You're kicking the can down the road."

Hayward, clearly prepared for a barrage of congressional venom, may have calculated that saying nothing was in the best interest of his company. His testimony, after all, could impact BP share prices and future litigation.

With that in mind, Hayward may as well preface each answer with "On the advice of counsel."

As the hearings resumed, Hayward's rope-a-dope testimony continued to frustrate the subcommittee members. "You are copping out, and you are the captain of the ship," said Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Georgia).

When asked about decisions made on the Deepwater Horizon rig that may have led to the disastrous oil spill, Hayward said, "I was not aware of any decisions around the well as it was being drilled." He added that the decisions were made by the drilling organization in the Gulf of Mexico who have the technical expertise.

"If there is any evidence that people put cost ahead of safety, we will take action," Hayward said, as a counterpoint to his refrain that he was not involved in the decision-making process. He also stated that he has not seen any evidence of reckless behavior related to the incident.

Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Washington) pointed to emails indicating that BP officials on the rig made decisions for expediency the contractor Halliburton said could result in a severe gas flow problem.

Concerning the risk, BP Engineer Brett Cocales wrote, "Who cares, it's done, end of story, will probably be fine."

"I don't want to be evasive or difficult, but until we understand all that contributed to the accident, it's not easy to say," Hayward said in response to Inslee's questioning.

Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vermont) asked Hayward about a number of past safety violations, including 760 safety violations in the past five years and $373 million in fines, which is far greater than BP's competition incurred.

Hayward responded that the company made major changes to processes and people since he took over the CEO spot in January 2007.

Yet, after 59 days and ongoing investigations by the U.S. government and BP, the CEO could not say specifically who made the decisions that may have contributed to the disaster in the Gulf.

Last updated: 4:15 PM ET

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by ThinknThink June 18, 2010 6:28 PM EDT: You are absolutely right!; Reply to this comment


by oilsolution June 18, 2010 4:48 PM EDT: See 2 Immediate Solutions that are outlined with Diagrams on how this hole can be plugged in 5 - 7 days - max.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/BP-Oil-Gusher-Solution-Fire-BP-Build-a-Sarcophagus/108197122559613
The 1st is to wrap it in mesh wire fencing (starting with Chain link) that gets progressively finer. This spreads the force of the oil over a wider surface area making it more manageable to contain and suppress. It's analogous to wrapping an ACE bandage around your knee. Next, scuttle old Navy ships right on top of the gusher. They weigh from 30 - 150 million lbs. The gusher is said to be ? million lbs of upward pressure - that?s not even close by comparison. If we can drop rocks into water, we can do this. Deploy a flotilla of US Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and Private vessels to drop additional fill-in debris around and on the top, creating a sarcophagus. Fill in with underwater cement. The Normandy Invasion had 7,000 ships moving together across the English Channel, completed in a matter of hours and we can?t do the same? We've put 5 manned space missions on the Moon, ? million miles away, they've never even tried for the moon (the British). This hole is a few miles out to sea and 1 mile deep. That's nothing! In 1973, our Glomar Explorer Mining Ship plucked a Soviet Submarine from 3.5 miles below the surface of the Ocean. This Hole is 1 mile deep. Dead Serious, we can do this!; Reply to this comment


by PVM22 June 18, 2010 10:12 AM EDT: When the questioning becomes an attack on a man, personally, of course he has to defend himself personally. People are too anxious to place blame on an individual, because it's easier to focus. It's more difficult to determine where the real responsibility lies, in a huge corporation, or maybe in the bigger picture of global economic and political order.; Reply to this comment


by tiggyzow June 18, 2010 9:36 AM EDT: Wow, that dude is such a tool. He deserves a serious beat down!

www.feds-logging.at.tc; Reply to this comment


by cleric60 June 18, 2010 8:15 AM EDT: BP'S CEO states; I KNOW NOTHING!!! WHITE HOUSE/CONGRESS replies; WE DO NOTHING!!!; Reply to this comment


by ronaldr5-2009 June 17, 2010 8:05 PM EDT: wjksea_nothing:

Commie? The very essence of what this Government proposes as a solution to EVERYTHING that comes its way smacks of Socialism/Communism. Do you own a dictionary? Is it close by to your Mom's gas water heater from whence you blog? Look up Communism. (Oops. My presumption: Do you read?) Can you understand the words coming from the BP collective?: "We Are Responsible. We will pay."

Purposefully ham-stringing and destroying the very entity that is prepared to make financial reparations is hardly a smart tactic. You are so buried in you false Liberal ideology that you are willing to sacrifice the very salvation that is being offered to the Gulf Coast by those who ARE RESPONSIBLE and have been (continue to be) willing to pay for this tragedy.

Your reply is EXACTLY the kind of idiocy and nonsense that will doom all legitimate efforts. As a matter of fact, you should consider working for this Administration. Your headline-comment is a perfect fit with the kind of garbage that fills the headlines of the MSM, and is welcomed by those who seek re-election from a predictable constituency.

Can there be any advantage in castrating those who understand their responsibilities, for the purpose of self-aggrandizement and unending political posturing? Obviously you think so. Continue on with your accusations and you predictable diatribe. It will end in catastrophe for both BP and the efforts to save the Gulf Coast.

Idiot.; Reply to this comment

by jschmidt27 June 17, 2010 7:32 PM EDT

As the Governor (Mel Brooks) said in Blazing Saddles, "We have to hurry up and do something to save our phony baloney jobs!"

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by brianbwb2011 June 17, 2010 7:52 PM EDT: Your past posts suggest your problem is closer to the one of the citizens of Rock Ridge had with the ethnicity of the new sheriff.

You voted for the politicians doing their phony-baloney jobs, as did your parents before you. in fact, when they were doing the same phony-baloney under the previous president, you positively loved them.


by jschmidt27 June 17, 2010 7:58 PM EDT: brian- I didn't vote for the people in charge now. They should be locked up for incompetence. Yes and of course if anyone disagrees with Obama they're a racist. Come up with somethig original will you. The man is an empty suit no matter what color he is and the liberals bring up his color more than anyone.

by jschmidt27 June 17, 2010 7:30 PM EDT

Amazing to see our Congressional reps trying to ask technical questions on a subject they no nothing about. It really makes the voters realize what fools they have in Congress as they pontificate and try to trip up the CEO. It is laughable. This type of behavior of trying to score points just infuriates me. Make some decisions and help the people of the Gulf instead of trying to show off. The hearing was a waste of everyones time as is a visit to the gulf by Obama. Talk is cheap. I presume the Congressman were looking for Hayward to slit his own throat during the meeting. What was the point.

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by brianbwb2011 June 17, 2010 7:40 PM EDT: Your disdain is laughable.

Even the Texas republicans, who do know a thing or two couldn't get answers, and Barton actually took his lips off BP's butt long enough to apologize for his earlier bagger spew.

This shows that even an unevolved bit of pond scum like Barton can, on occasion, show more intelligence than you.

You ask what was the point?

Yo, Jethro, the point was to understand how the decision making process created the disaster, so that measures can be put into place to discourage such in the future.

I realize this bit of logic is over your head, but I thought I might try to explain what you seem unable to comprehend.


by jschmidt27 June 17, 2010 7:49 PM EDT: brian- do you really think hayward had on his finger tips the decision making process? They need to talk to the VP in charge of the well or the engineers. This was a show session. Nothing more. It was to supposedly make it look like Congress was after some answers. The logic is plan. You obviously think the hearing members knew what they were talking about. They have no clue. They should have had a hearing on what was or wasn't getting done in the gulf to fix the problem or clean it up. That is the pressing need. Figuring out what went wrong should be decided by the engineers in BP, and the government agencies, and then presented before Congress. Or is their insufficient time before the election to place the blame that the Democrats so want to do?


by underdogus2009 June 17, 2010 7:20 PM EDT: BABYLONIAN SYSTEM UTTERLY UTTERLY DOOMED!!
BP Admits That - If It Tries to Cap the Leak - the Whole Well May Blow

http://grantlawrence.blogspot.com/2010/06/bp-admits-capping-oil-gusher-may-cause.html; Reply to this comment

by kmrunner122 June 17, 2010 7:13 PM EDT

I'll bet everything I own that Hayward was laughing all the way home on his Lear jet at the BOTH Republican and Democratic Congressmen. I sat there for 2 hours and just said I don't know all day and there was nothing they could do to me. All he's thinking about is his next ski trip and getting "his life back". He doesn't give a shiiit about any of the small people!

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by brianbwb2011 June 17, 2010 7:47 PM EDT: There is nothing they could do anyway.

Hayward is a British subject, and until actual evidence of criminal activity is connected to him personally, no arrest, or other such measure can happen.

It seems everyone on the panel, and Hayward understood this from the start, this is why the panel, on both sides, were frustrated at his unwillingness to provide meaningful information.

Now if you want to see who really doesn't care about the spill, just check out the tea-klux bagger posts using this story for nothing other than to heap more scorn on the current administration.