By Jim Jelter
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Oil and gas stocks opened higher Wednesday, with BP PLC (BP 38.38, +1.19, +3.20%) leading sector gainers. BP released its much-anticipated report on the Macondo well blowout, concluding that rig owner Transocean (RIG 53.70, +0.65, +1.23%) and oil well service provider Halliburton (HAL 29.73, -0.11, -0.37%) were among those whose decisions contributed to the accident. BP shares rallied 3.6% to $38.52 in New York, topping a 1.1% gain to 980.6 points by the NYSE Arca Oil Index (XOI 980.38, +11.07, +1.14%) . The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index (OSX 181.68, +1.96, +1.09%) was up 0.9% at 181 points, with Halliburton shares down 0.4% at $29.72. The NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index (XNG 509.92, +2.42, +0.48%) was up 0.6% at 510.7 points. October crude futures were last up 39 cents at $74.47 a barrel in New York.
