Transocean provides the rig and crew to operate it. They can do nothing in regard to the drilling except give advice.

"The rig's regulations state that in the event of such an emergency, the two top managers- on April 20 they were BP's senior person on the rig, Donald Vidrine, and Transocean's installation manager, Mr. Harrell- were to go to the drilling floor and evaluate the situation jointly. But once the gas hit, neither was able to get to the area."

These rigs have no fire pumps, so the fire couldn't be fought (impossible anyhow, with the rush of gas up the pipe).

All of those killed were American, including the well-known driller, Dewey Revette.
See other thread for more comments from the WSJ article, which includes pictures of the 11 killed.

The BP executives on board, and senior transocean crew, escaped.