BP point man doesn't say if company will drill in Gulf again

Bob Dudley said the company is still investigating the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion.

By

Associated Press

Wed, Jun 23 2010 at 7:39 AM

Related Topics:

Offshore Drilling, Gulf Oil Spill, Tony Hayward, Oil & Gas

THE REPLACEMENT: Dudley took over the Gulf oil spill response and cleanup from BP’s chief executive, Tony Hayward. (Photo: Steven Senne/AP)

BP's new point man for the oil spill won't say if the giant company will resume deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico after a judge lifted a White House moratorium.

Bob Dudley, managing director of BP PLC, was asked on NBC's "Today" show Wednesday if BP would start drilling again.

Dudley says they will "step back" from the issue while they investigate the April 20 rig explosion that killed 11 workers and triggered the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

BP is the largest oil and gas producer in the Gulf.

Dudley told the CBS "Early Show" he has completed taking over the disaster response and cleanup from the company's chief executive, Tony Hayward.

Hayward repeatedly sparked criticism from the Gulf to the U.S. Capitol for missteps and insensitive comments.