BP hits US talk shows to deal with resentment
Source: Agencies |
May 25, 2010, Tuesday
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THE BP executive in charge of fighting a Gulf of Mexico oil spill acknowledged yesterday that everyone is frustrated at the company's failure to plug the ocean gusher more than a month into a disaster that is spreading damage in Louisiana's wetlands, including miring pelican colonies.
Doug Suttles, chief operating officer at BP PLC, went on all three United States network morning talks shows with the same message: BP knows frustration is growing that it hasn't been able to halt the spill of millions of gallons of oil from a well that blew out after a rig explosion April 20 off the Lousiana coast.
"We are doing everything we can, everything I know," Suttles said on the NBC "Today" show.
The Obama administration questioned BP's competence on Sunday, when Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told reporters he was "not completely" confident that BP knows what it's doing.
"If we find they're not doing what they're supposed to be doing, we'll push them out of the way appropriately," Salazar said.
Asked about Salazar's criticism, Suttles said BP is working with experts from other oil companies and the government to find a solution.
"What I do know is, everyone is frustrated. I think the people of the region are frustrated. I know we are, I know the government is," Suttles said on NBC. "The fact that it's taken this long is painful to everybody."
Suttles said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that BP's next shot at plugging the well this week stands a very good chance of success. But he said the global oil company has more plans in case the latest efforts fails, like several before it.
BP plans to use heavy mud and cement to stop the breach, a maneuver called a top kill. Suttles said on the CBS "Early Show" the effort should start tomorrow morning and they'll know the same day if it works.
The White House said on Sunday the Justice Department has been gathering information about the oil spill. Press secretary Robert Gibbs didn't say whether the department has opened a criminal investigation. He would only tell CBS' "Face the Nation" that department representatives have been to the Gulf as part of the response to the oil leak.
Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano were to lead a Senate delegation this week to fly over affected areas.
BP said yesterday its costs for responding to the spill had grown to about US$760 million, including containment efforts, drilling a relief well to stop the leak permanently, grants to Gulf states for their response costs and paying damage claims.
Doug Suttles, chief operating officer at BP PLC, went on all three United States network morning talks shows with the same message: BP knows frustration is growing that it hasn't been able to halt the spill of millions of gallons of oil from a well that blew out after a rig explosion April 20 off the Lousiana coast.
"We are doing everything we can, everything I know," Suttles said on the NBC "Today" show.
The Obama administration questioned BP's competence on Sunday, when Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told reporters he was "not completely" confident that BP knows what it's doing.
"If we find they're not doing what they're supposed to be doing, we'll push them out of the way appropriately," Salazar said.
Asked about Salazar's criticism, Suttles said BP is working with experts from other oil companies and the government to find a solution.
"What I do know is, everyone is frustrated. I think the people of the region are frustrated. I know we are, I know the government is," Suttles said on NBC. "The fact that it's taken this long is painful to everybody."
Suttles said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that BP's next shot at plugging the well this week stands a very good chance of success. But he said the global oil company has more plans in case the latest efforts fails, like several before it.
BP plans to use heavy mud and cement to stop the breach, a maneuver called a top kill. Suttles said on the CBS "Early Show" the effort should start tomorrow morning and they'll know the same day if it works.
The White House said on Sunday the Justice Department has been gathering information about the oil spill. Press secretary Robert Gibbs didn't say whether the department has opened a criminal investigation. He would only tell CBS' "Face the Nation" that department representatives have been to the Gulf as part of the response to the oil leak.
Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano were to lead a Senate delegation this week to fly over affected areas.
BP said yesterday its costs for responding to the spill had grown to about US$760 million, including containment efforts, drilling a relief well to stop the leak permanently, grants to Gulf states for their response costs and paying damage claims.
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