6 of the total production of the United States

After be shown to be very reactive and have admitted responsibility, BP is facing a wave of criticism more increasing. With at least three types of criticisms.

Lack of anticipation

A prototype-like containment Dome, chemical tube urgently designed midshipman, dispersants used in depth and an unknown scale until then... Since the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon platform on April 22, BP multiplied efforts to stem the oil spill. But the solutions implemented are often scientific experimentation. "All the techniques tested or considered to contain the flow of oil on the seabed involve large uncertainties because they have not been tested under these conditions previously", acknowledged the company.

The oil industry have already faced leaks of subsea wells, BP had not clearly anticipated the arrival of an accident of this type in such depth. "What strikes in this story, is that BP is forced to invent solutions in emergency," said a leader of the sector. This lack of anticipation concerned and irritated by the American authorities. Last week, the Agency in charge of the protection of the environment asked the British tanker to use less toxic dispersant products, because their impact on the marine environment was unknown to a depth of 1,500 metres. Two weeks ago, BP began to distribute these products to the source of the leak, "which has never been tried before", said the Agency.

Another platform in the spotlight

Last week, Democrats elected 20 requested the closure of the offshore platform Atlantis, the largest operated by BP in the Gulf of the Mexico. Installation, which is in operation since 2007 and have not updated technical diagrams. These documents, which describe the operation of all the components of a system, are essential to guide an operator. "We are concerned that the accident on the Deepwater Horizon platform could presage a crash on Atlantis, operating at greater depths", say MEPs in a letter to the Federal Agency in charge of mineral resources. To accredit these charges, is mail refers to internal e-mails of BP dating from 2008. Meanwhile, BP responded that these accusations were "without content" and reaffirmed that Atlantis fully meet the most stringent security standards.

For the group, a judgment of the platform would have heavy consequences. Located 240 kilometres south of New Orleans, Atlantis is one of two largest platforms in the region. She has worked in more than 2,000 metres of water and has a production capacity of 200,000 equivalent barrels oil per day, approximately 3.6 of the total production of the United States. The Federal Agency in charge of the mining sector must complete an inspection of the site on 27 May.

A dispute at the origin of the drama

According to Mike Williams, a technician in charge of the electronics on the Deepwater Horizon platform, a dispute would have opposite BP and Transocean officials on work in progress, just before the explosion. The British tanker wanted to move quickly while various setbacks had hampered the work. He would have acted against the recommendations of Transocean, owner of the platform, to accelerate the pace.

According to CBS, each day of delay cost more than 800,000 euros to the company. The leaders of BP reportedly including ordered the continuation of the operation despite the destruction of a safety device anti-explosion, due to an error of manipulation.

This evidence was raised, two weeks ago in the Senate, where the Minister of the Interior, Ken Salazar, was heard. He has refused to comment on the facts reported. At the request of Barack Obama, a commission of inquiry will be created to update the causes of the accident.