Executives from other major oil companies turned on BP Plc and defended their own drilling practices during a U.S. congressional hearing on Tuesday as they sought to stave off new government regulations in the wake of BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Reuters reported. Summoned before the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on energy and environment, executives of the biggest oil companies moved to isolate BP while asserting that the accident could have been prevented. Exxon Mobil Chairman Rex Tillerson told the panel it is crucial to find out what caused the offshore rig to explode in April, creating the biggest oil spill in U.S. history. "This incident represents a dramatic departure from the industry norm in deepwater drilling," Tillerson said. Shell Oil Co President Marvin Odum testified, "We remain confident in our drilling expertise and procedures, built on a foundation of multiple required safety barriers, proven methods and strict company standards." The hearing preceded President Barack Obama's scheduled televised address from the Oval Office on Tuesday night amid doubts among many Americans that his administration has done enough to clean up the spill and prevent future accidents. The other executives appearing at the hearing were from Chevron, ConocoPhillips and the U.S. unit of BP, which is responsible for oil spill that began almost two months ago when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig it leased exploded and sank, killing 11 workers. -- SPA
