Panel investigator: BP about 90 per cent right

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Panel investigator: BP about 90 per cent right

The Associated Press Published Monday, November 8, 2010 1:54PM EST

An unidentified BP worker power-washes booms that have been collecting oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, at the BP Cocodrie staging area in Terrebonne Parish where they clean and repair booms, Sunday, July 4, 2010 in Cocodrie, La. (AP / Judi Bottoni)

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WASHINGTON - The early findings of the president's independent commission into what caused BP's Gulf oil spill will support many of the conclusions the oil company made in its own internal investigation.

Fred H. Bartlit, Jr., the panel's chief investigator, said Monday he agreed with about 90 per cent of BP's findings. He said there were some areas where the panel's probe conflicted.

BP PLC's report found flaws with contractor Halliburton's cement job and maintenance performed by rig owner Transocean Ltd. The company's report has been criticized as self-serving, and a preview of its legal case.

Bartlit said the findings he will present later Monday are not meant to assign blame or liability but to get to the root cause "without a lot of bickering and self-serving statements."