BP's Hayward: many oil wells share Macondo design

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward told a U.S. House of Representatives hearing looking into the cause of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that there are many wells in the region that have the same casing design as the Macondo well that was ruptured by a deadly explosion.

"There are many wells in the Gulf of Mexico that had the same casing design, there are many wells that have been drilled with the same cement procedures," Hayward told the hearing.

BP has been accused of cutting corners on casing design that lead to the blast and the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is looking into how much BP knew about safety problems with the Macondo well before the rig drilling it blew up on April 20.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by David Gregorio)