US lawmakers call for executives to testify on oil spill

US lawmakers on Friday summoned top executives from companies involved in the Gulf oil rig disaster to testify at a hearing examining the causes of the massive oil spill threatening the US coastline. A House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce subcommittee is seeking testimony from Lamar McKay of BP America, Inc, Steve Newman of Transocean Ltd and David Lesar of Halliburton Co. In advance of the hearing, scheduled for May 12, the subcommittee is asking the companies to provide any documents relating to potential causes of the rig accident. BP has been asked to also release any worker complaints concerning construction and engineering problems at the company's deepwater projects. Transocean's Deepwater Horizon sank after exploding and catching fire while finishing a well for BP. The explosion killed 11 workers and the well, which the companies have been unable to cap, is gushing about 5,000 barrels of crude a day. Halliburton provided a variety of services on the rig and was involved in cementing on the well to stabilize its walls.