Transocean Convicted in Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
From Fuel Fix
The owner of the deep-water rig that exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico nearly three years ago after an undersea well blew out is now the second company to be convicted of a crime stemming from the deadly disaster.
A lawyer for Swiss drilling contractor Transocean, Brad Brian, stood before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo in federal court in New Orleans and entered a guilty plea Thursday on the company’s behalf to a misdemeanor charge of violating the Clean Water Act.
“Does the company wish to plead guilty because it is guilty,” Milazzo asked Brian.
“Yes, your honor,” Brian responded.
Three victims or representatives of victims of the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history were scheduled to speak at the hearing, but none showed up. No Transocean executives spoke at the hearing, and Brian said the company had nothing to add beyond what it has said in court papers.
Milazzo took a brief recess and then returned to the courtroom and approved the criminal settlement that Transocean reached with the Justice Department.
