Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Lord Sewel Excerpts

Monday 14th June 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sewel]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. He will be aware that many of BP’s US assets, particularly those in the Gulf, came via the takeovers of Amoco and ARCO. Is there any evidence to suggest that these operational assets were not properly integrated within the BP structure and have been managed almost as a quasi-independent operation? Can I push the Minister further on the US regulatory regime, because there is a view in the industry that the US has failed to learn from the lessons of others, particularly those learnt in the North Sea? I understand that some aspects of drilling this particular well would, for example, have been illegal in the North Sea.

[Lord Marland]

I thank the noble Lord for his two questions, both of which were extremely valid. I can state categorically that there is no evidence that this project was not managed properly. I think that I am right in saying that Transocean is the largest contracting operator in the world. It has great experience and this was very much an integrated programme. On US regulation, as I have mentioned, I am sure that there will be a lot of deep thinking—as there always is after such a tragic and dreadful environmental disaster—by the US Government, who will be searching deeply for the changes that they should make. We commit to keeping noble Lords advised on those developments.