Criminal Charges from the Gulf Disaster?

Factual Questions
1

Assume the following:

  1. Transocean, engaged by BP, installs a “blow-out preventer” that (i) has been repaired using the wrong parts, rendering it inoperable, (ii) has been installed with dead batteries in the control panels, making the back up controls useless, and (iii) was not powerful enough to prevent a blow out based on the type of drill bore they were using. Oh, and it also had hydraulic leaks.

  2. BP orders Transocean and/or Haliburton to remove the “drilling mud” from the drill bore, despite the fact that this particular well had “kicked” numerous times, indicating excessive gas and pressure in the well, and despite the vociferous objections of Transocean and/or Haliburton. Transwestern and/or Haliburton follow BPs order and remove the drilling mud from the drill bore.

  3. Because of the removal of the “drilling mud”, the pressure in the well bore rises to dangerous levels, and begins to spew highly flammable gas up the drill bore, onto the drilling platform.

  4. Because the blow-out preventer is faulty, it is unable to function as designed, and can’t seal off the well.

  5. The gas explodes, destroys the drilling rig, kills 11 people, and leaves a broken well bore spewing oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico.

What if any criminal charges could be brought against the companies or employees of BP, Transocean and/or Haliburton?

2

Depends upon which laws to prosecute under - Clean Water Act, Migratory Birds Act, Oil Pollution Act for starters.

See more here.

Maybe even manslaughter.

3

Thanks - that article answers some of my questions.