Article? Read the law.
H. R. 1252.
This defines precisely what would make criminals of the oil companies:
(1) IN GENERAL- It shall be unlawful for any person to sell crude oil, gasoline, natural gas, or petroleum distillates at a price that--
(A) is unconscionably excessive; or
(B) indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage unusual market conditions (whether real or perceived) or the circumstances of an emergency to increase prices unreasonably.
Pretty subjective, wouldn't you say? Wonder who gets to decide.
As for "market transparency," the numbers are all there for anybody to look up in corporate reports and other public documents. It's just that nobody is actually interested in real answers, just sticking it to the Evil Corporations for a situation largely created by those doing the sticking.