The explosion and subsequent fire resulted in the sinking of. Scientists noted that the prevailing paths of the gulf of mexicos loop current and a detached eddy located to the west kept much of the oil, which covered a sizable part of the gulf some three. Deepwater horizon accident investigation report sec. It fouled the coasts of florida, alabama, mississippi, louisiana and texas and launched a sixyear long environmental and legal battle. The explosion and subsequent fire resulted in the sinking of the deepwater horizon and the deaths of 11 workers. The vessel, operated by transocean and leased by bp, was working about 40 miles. Photo timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill crisis mpr news. For two whole days, the coast guard fought the inextinguishable fire and on 22 april 2010, deepwater horizon sank, leaving the oil rigs well gushing oil across the mexican gulf seabed, inevitably leading to the largest ever oil spill in u. Houston, texas, june 5, 2014 the csb today released a narrated computer animation recreating the deepwater horizon blowout on april 20, 2010. Litigation commenced almost immediately after the explosion and oil spill.
The catastrophic oil spill in the gulf of mexico became frontpage news as soon as the deepwater horizon offshore oil rig exploded and caught fire on april 20, 2010, killing 11 workers and starting the worst manmade environmental disaster in u. The deepwater horizon joint investigation board concluded the first day of the third session of hearings into the circumstances surrounding the explosion, fire, pollution and sinking. April 20, 2010 explosion and fire on transoceans drilling rig deepwater horizon licensed to bp. Over a span of 87 days, the deepwater horizon well released an. December 1998 construction begins on the deepwater horizon, built by hyundai heavy industries, in ulsan, south korea. Following is a timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill for may 2010 before may 1. The deepwater horizon cleanup officially ended in april 2014, but many people will tell you that the recovery is just getting started. Beneath the horizon examines the consequences of two major oil spills in the gulf of mexico. It was a result of the well blowout that began with the deepwater horizon drilling rig explosion. The uncontrollable explosion aboard the deepwater horizon caused the deaths of 11 crewmen, injuring 38. The deepwater horizon response command, which includes bp and government representatives, says it now calculates the total spill at 4.
The deepwater horizon oil spill is regarded as one of the largest environmental disasters in american history. Deepwater horizonthe lasting impact of americas largest. On april 20, 2010, the deepwater horizon mobile drilling unit exploded, caught fire, and. Deepwater horizon an overview sciencedirect topics. Deepwater horizon oil platform explosion 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago monday, april 20 2020 apr 20, 2020 april 20, 2020 8. In addition to the death of 11 men, the spill resulted in the largest mobilization of resources addressing an. House judiciary committee that it was defendant in 120 lawsuits, of which more than 80 were class actions seeking payment for financial losses covered by the oil spill pollution act. Deepwater horizon oil spill final programmatic damage.
Detailed response timeline on april 20, 2010, a major explosion occurred on the deepwater horizon offshore oil. In april 2010, there is no oil exploration operation in the gulf of mexico to compare with the deepwater horizon oil. On april 20, 2010, the deepwater horizon oil rig exploded off the gulf coast, killing 11 people and injuring 17. Sep 09, 2010 bp admitted today its managers on the deepwater horizon missed key warning signs in the hours before the explosion aboard the oil rig, but an internal investigation put much of the blame on other. A timeline of events leading to the april 20 explosion on the deepwater horizon oil rig in the gulf of mexico, according to documents from congressional investigators and. Assessing the impacts from deepwater horizon response. The movie deepwater horizon opens today, and to the unaware it may seem like any other actionpacked disaster flick. Sep 30, 20 on april 20, 2010, the largest environmental disaster in us history began when the deepwater horizon oil rig exploded and started gushing hundreds of millions of gallons of oil into the gulf. By may 27, 2010, transocean, which owned the deepwater horizon, said in testimony before the u. What caused the explosion on the deepwater horizon.
A suncam online continuing education course a case study in engineering ethics. May 06, 2010 20 april 2010 explosion and fire on the transocean drilling rig deepwater horizon licensed to bp. Ecosystems are comprised of biological, physical, and chemical components. Timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill wikipedia. The rig was drilling in bps macondo project offshore louisiana, beneath about 5,000ft 1,525m of. Oil spill timeline volume and extent closure response environmental impact health consequences economic effects reactions investigation litigation compensation v t e. On april 20, 2010, the deepwater horizon oil platform operated by bp, was disconnecting from a recently discovered oil reservoir 50 miles south of louisiana when a cascade of equipment. Timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill july 2010.
Deepwater horizon explosion anchor handling tugs and platform supply vessels combat the fir. Ten years after the deepwater horizon oil spill were. Apr 10, 2015 burkeen, 37, was a crane operator on deepwater horizon for 10 years. A perspective from within deepwater horizons unified command. Key events that led to deepwater blowout this week, federal agencies and the u.
Bp admitted today its managers on the deepwater horizon missed key warning signs in the hours before the explosion aboard the oil rig. Six years after deepwater horizon, tracking a long recovery. Csb releases new computer animation of 2010 deepwater. Beyond the explosions and impressive stunt work though, it. Ten years ago, a powerful explosion destroyed an oil rig in the gulf of mexico, killing 11 workers and injuring 17 others. Apr 20, 2018 eight years after the deadly deepwater horizon explosion, a safety watchdog aims to prevent another disaster. Most of the 126 people on board escape safely after the explosion on the deepwater horizon at about 10 p. The 2010 deepwater horizon oil spill in the northern gulf and the lesser known 1979 ixtoc oil spill in the southern gulf. On 20 april, the deepwater horizon drilling rig exploded in the gulf of mexico, killing 11 workers and causing an oil spill that soon became the worst environmental disaster in us history. Weeks after the deepwater horizon offshore drilling rig exploded, killing 11 and injuring dozens, oil from bps underwater well continues to. In september 2009, the rig drilled the deepest oil well in history at a. Deepwater horizon oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an april 20, 2010, explosion on the deepwater horizon oil riglocated. The deepwater horizon oil spill, also known as the bp oil spill, bp oil disaster or the gulf of mexico oil spill, was an industrial disaster that began on april 20, 2010, in the gulf of mexico.
Jan 09, 2017 deepwater horizon 1 pcm explosion james martin curwain. Deepwater horizon response timeline april 20, 2010 explosion. Timeline for the deepwater horizon oil spill springerlink. Jul 22, 2010 follow our stepbystep timeline of the bp oil spill, from the construction of deepwater horizon to date guardian research thu 22 jul 2010 05. Deepwater horizon bp gulf of mexico oil spill us epa. Deepwater horizon response summary website of the deepwater horizon incident unified command which was established to manage response operations to the bp deepwater horizon explosion and oil spill. Explosion and fire on the bplicensed transocean drilling rig deepwater horizon in the gulf of mexico.
A timeline of deepwater horizon disaster in alabama. On april 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig deepwater horizon, operating in the macondo prospect in the gulf of mexico, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the deepwater horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations. Before planning to drill a hole to a certain depth the rating i. Caleb holloway, a lanky 28yearold floorhand, headed up to the horizon s vast main deck just after 11 a. On april 20, 2010, an explosion on the deepwater horizon macondo oil well drilling platform killed 11 workers, and started the largest marine oil spill in u. The rig was drilling in bps macondo project 42 miles southeast of venice.
Deepwater horizon disaster explosion on april 20, 2010 11 killed, 17 seriously injured. Following the explosion, more than 200 million us gallons of oil. View full size ap photogerald herbert this aerial photo taken on april 21, 2010 shows the deepwater horizon oil rig burning a day after the explosion that killed 11 workers. The deepwater horizon investigation included several investigations and commissions, among others reports by national incident commander thad allen, united states coast guard, national commission on the bp deepwater horizon oil spill and offshore drilling, bureau of ocean energy management, regulation and enforcement, national academy of engineering, national research council. Its been 100 days since the deepwater horizon drilling rig caught fire. The same blowout that caused the explosion also caused an oil well fire and a massive offshore oil spill in the gulf of mexico, considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in the world, and the largest environmental disaster in u.
The following is a timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill. Commission on the bp deepwater horizon oil spill and offshore drilling. Nine years later, the bp oil spills environmental mess. For the drilling rig and oil spill, see deepwater horizon disambiguation. It tells the true story of the illfated semisubmersible offshore oil drilling rig that exploded after the well it was drilling erupted, killing 11 workers and injuring dozens more. Yet, there are a number of things about the devastating oil spill in the gulf of mexico that have been overlooked or underreported by the.
The eight failures that caused the gulf oil spill new scientist. May 26, 2010 a timeline of events leading to the april 20 explosion on the deepwater horizon oil rig in the gulf of mexico, according to documents from congressional investigators and testimony from witnesses. On 20 april 2010 an explosion on the deepwater horizon drilling rig killed 11 men and sent millions of gallons of oil gushing into the gulf of mexico. Lasting damage of deepwater horizon explosion a mystery 10. It was a massive oil spill in the gulf of mexico, the largest offshore spill in u. Social effects of the deepwater horizon oil spill on. Congress will open hearings to investigate what happened onboard the deepwater horizon leading up to the massive blowout on april 20. Deepwater horizon explosion wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Deepwater horizon oil spill, also called gulf of mexico oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an april 20, 2010, explosion on the deepwater horizon oil riglocated in the gulf of mexico, approximately 41 miles 66 km off the coast of louisiana and its subsequent sinking on april 22. Bp oil spill timeline deepwater horizon oil spill the guardian. The deepwater horizon disaster serves as an important reminder that safety and workflow processes cannot be ignored.
The response and the natural resources damage assessment were the largest in the nations history. The following is a timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill also referred to as the bp oil spill, the gulf of mexico oil spill or the macondo blowout. Along alabamas gulf coast, questions, and work, go on a timeline of deepwater horizon disaster in alabama. This timeline tracks bps attempts to control the spill, the unfolding environmental disaster and the political fallout of a bitter confrontation with the obama administration. April 4, 2017 the 2010 deepwater horizon disaster spread spilled oil deep into the oceans depths and along the shores of the gulf of mexico, compromising the complex ecosystem and local economies. Deepwater horizons job was to locate an oil deposit, drill it, and move on while another rig exploited the find. The third session is being conducted with the focus on the how and the why which might also be considered the technical verification phase. The rig was drilling in bps macondo project offshore louisiana, beneath about 5,000ft 1,525m of water and,000ft under the seabed. Timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill may 2010. It is the largest marine oil spill in history caused by an explosion on the deepwater horizon oil rig and its ultimate sinking. Jun 01, 2010 april 20, 2010explosion and fire on transoceans drilling rig deepwater horizon licensed to bp. Mar, 2017 at the time of the explosion and fire in 2010, the deepwater horizon was under contract to bp, which owned the rights to oil exploitation in the macondo prospect area of the gulf. Apr 19, 2018 on april 20, 2010, the deepwater horizon oil platform operated by bp, was disconnecting from a recently discovered oil reservoir 50 miles south of louisiana when a cascade of equipment. The deepwater horizon oil spill also referred to as the bp oil spill, oil leak, or oil disaster.
Follow our stepbystep timeline of the bp oil spill, from the construction of deepwater horizon to date guardian research thu 22 jul 2010 05. Deepwater horizonthe lasting impact of americas largest oil. The deepwater horizon drilling rig explosion was the april 20, 2010, explosion and subsequent fire on the deepwater horizon semisubmersible mobile offshore drilling unit modu, which was owned and operated by transocean and drilling for bp in the macondo prospect oil field about 40 miles 64 km southeast off the louisiana coast. The following is a timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill it was a massive oil spill in the gulf of mexico, the largest offshore spill in u. The blast killed 11 workers and is releasing massive amounts of oil into the. A massive response ensued to protect beaches, wetlands and estuaries from the spreading oil utilizing skimmer ships, floating booms, controlled burns and 1. Timeline of the deepwater horizon oil spill july 2010 wikipedia. Eight catastrophic failures led to the explosion that destroyed the deepwater horizon drilling rig in the gulf of mexico, killing 11 people and leading to one of the biggest oil. A horrifying explosion on the transocean semisubmersible offshore drilling rig, deepwater horizon, occurred on april 20, 2010 in the gulf of mexico.
Congress will open hearings to investigate what happened onboard the deepwater horizon leading up to the massive. They have included an extensive claims settlement process for a guilty plea to criminal charges by bp, and an ongoing clean water act lawsuit brought by the u. The civil and criminal proceedings stemming from the explosion of deepwater horizon and the resulting massive oil spill in the gulf of mexico began shortly after the april 20, 2010 incident and have continued since then. Look back on the explosion that left 11 dead and caused the worst oil spill in u. A year after deepwater horizon explosion, 3 survivors. This weekend, the feature film deepwater horizon hits movie theaters across the country. The initial oil rig explosion on april 20, 2010, killed 11 people. On the anniversary of the disaster, the survivors say they hope to one day put the accident behind them but also hope people never forget the 11 men who died that night on the deepwater horizon. Deepwater horizon response march 2, 2011 8 section 1. The story of risk management failure deepwater horizon.
The deepwater horizon drilling rig explosion was the april 20, 2010, explosion and. March 19 macondo prospect lease purchased by a consortium of bp 65%, anadarko petroleum 25%, and mitsui oil exploration 10%. Since the bp deepwater horizon oil disaster began in 2010, the gulf of mexico has been on a long road to recovery. April 20, 2010 explosion and failure of the deepwater horizon oil well.
Bps report into the deepwater horizon oil rig explosion has exposed deep failings in the companys operation, categorising eight key failings. On 20 april 2010, the offshore drilling rig deepwater horizon exploded and caught fire in us waters of the gulf of mexico. Cofferdam containment dome under construction at wild well. The april 2010 deepwater horizon dwh oil spill in the gulf of mexico resulted in the largest offshore oil spill in u. This lease sale included 614 other prospect leases, of which 34. The acquisition will be the latest in a series of restoration efforts along the gulf in the wake of the 2010 explosion at the offshore deepwater horizon that left. Rescuers search waters off louisianas coast after an explosion and fire on an offshore drilling platform leaves seven workers badly hurt and 11 missing.
But it faces multiple challenges, and a shift in focus under the trump administration. The rig was owned by transocean on lease to bp, which was the main operator and developer of the site, with anadarko petroleum and moex offshore part of mitsui oil. Regardless of whether you work in oil and gas or in another industry with high. The scientists concluded that the deepwater horizon oil spill killed thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and. Noaa was on the scene from the earliest moments of the crisis, bringing more than 25 years of experience protecting and restoring our coasts from oil spills.
The bp gulf oil spill is the worst risk management story, and the best risk management story. The forensic testing on which the report is based focused on the drill pipe contained within the riser and the drill pipe removed from the. Deepwater horizon was an ultra deepwater, dynamically positioned, semisubmersible offshore drilling rig owned by transocean. April 3, 2017 the deepwater horizon oil spill began on april 20, 2010, with a blowout of bps macondo drilling platform in the gulf of mexico. May 14, 2010 as more details emerge about the events leading up to the explosion and sinking of the deepwater horizon, it has become clear that the singleminded drive for profit and a total lack of regulation. Deepwater horizon study group working paper a perspective from within deepwater horizons unified command post houma 4 study at uic mobile, demobilization surveys and interviews identified an alarming number of responders who were randomly mobilized and were not utilized in a capacity to take advantage of their specialized training. The disaster on april 20, 2010 killed 11 workers as the. May 10, 2010 key events that led to deepwater blowout this week, federal agencies and the u. Opticem tm software considers only the formation pressure and not the fluid content, net. A dramatization of the disaster in april 2010, when the offshore drilling rig called the deepwater horizon exploded, resulting in the worst oil spill in american history. Nine years ago, bps deepwater horizon drilling rig exploded off the coast of louisiana, causing the worst oil spill in us history.
The united states department of interior issued a report on the results of its forensic testing of the drilling equipment in use at the time of the deepwater horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill. On april 20, 2010, while drilling at the offshore bp macondo prospect, there was a blowout on the rig followed by a release of gas and in turn an explosion that killed 11 crew members. Timeline of events leading up to the deepwater horizon accident. Deepwater horizon settlement money to be used for new. It was a result of the well blowout that began with the deepwater horizon drilling rig explosion on april 20, 2010. Created with help from the trust for public land, the deepwater horizon project tracker is a centralized directory of projects funded as a result of the deepwater horizon oil spill. This undated image provided by deepwater horizon response. The deepwater horizon oil spill in the gulf of mexico was the largest oil spill in united states history. The video depicts how highpressure oil and gas from the macondo well in the gulf of mexico caused an explosion on the drilling rig that killed 11 workers and seriously injured 17 others. By featuring scientists who have devoted their lives to studying the spills and residents who lived through them, we explore how the environment and people cope with disaster and. A timeline of events leading to the april 20 explosion on the deepwater horizon oil rig in the gulf of mexico, according to documents from congressional investigators and testimony from witnesses. Several years later families and deepwater horizon oil rig explosion survivors, as well as business along the gulf of mexico are still struggling dealing with its aftermath.
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