The British Petroleum Corporation, has overall responsibility as they are have exploration rights to the block where the well is drilled, and is the operator of the well.
Now, there is likely to be disagreement to who caused the well to blow out. The blow out preventers did not operate as they should. So, the owners of the rig, Transocean Corp, and the makers of the blow out preventers, Cameron, may be connected to the cause of the spill. Finally, the blowout occurred shortly after cementing in production tubing, done by Halliburton, so their actions may also be related to the accident.
Note, the BP oil spill could refer either to the 2006 Alaskan Prudhoe Bay spill, the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill, or other more minor oil spills. BP was at least partially responsible in each of these spills.
Generally, the company who owns or leases the mineral rights to the block has primary responsibility as they are the final authority on operations on the rig. This company is British Petroleum (BP). A number of contractors, including Transocean and Halliburton, were contracted by BP. If their actions contributed to the accident, they may have to share in the damages caused by the oil spill. This will be decided by the courts. BP had two partners who had interest in the block, Andarko and Moex. BP wants them to pay their share and they refused saying the accident was caused by BP.
See related links.
British petrouleum industry is responsible for the major oil spinn in the coast
BP oil and gas company
ummm... BP? its pretty obvious...
BP British Petroleum is solely responsible for the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.
BP is responsible for the oil spill in the gulf
There was an oil spill in Louisiana?!?!? Oh yeah..... there is still oil floating around near Florida and the Gulf of Mexico
Which gulf and which oil spill? See related questions.
Louisiana's fishing industry
All of them
The company was not involved in the spill.
Louisiana
About as responsible as you are.
The BP oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf War oil spill occurred in the Persian Gulf in Kuwait.
It is spreading to Louisiana, Florida, and Alaska
British Petroleum.