What happened in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill?
What happened in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill?
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, killing 11 people. Two days later, the rig capsized, and the damaged pipe below the rig began spewing oil into the surrounding water.
Who caused the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?
BP
In September 2014, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that BP was primarily responsible for the oil spill because of its gross negligence and reckless conduct. In April 2016, BP agreed to pay $20.8 billion in fines, the largest corporate settlement in United States history.
Is Deep Horizon based on a true story?
But, unlike many films based on true events, Deepwater Horizon actually stays remarkably close to real life. The film chronicles the last moments on the drilling rig for which the movie is named in remarkable detail.
How many oil spills have happened in the Gulf of Mexico?
There have been three major oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico: The Ixtoc I oil spill, from June 1979 to March 1980. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, from April 2010 to August 2010. The Taylor oil spill, from September 2004 to present.
How did BP handle the oil spill?
In just over two hours, oil skimming vessels were on the scene and the company’s crisis team was in the air. More than 100 people from other big oil companies took part on the spill response, and BP trained and equipped volunteer bird rescuers, who became some of the company’s strongest supporters in the community.
When did the BP oil spill happen?
April 20, 2010
Deepwater Horizon oil spill/Start dates
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.
Why does the Gulf of Mexico have so many oil spills?
The main reason the Gulf of Mexico is such a hotbed for oil and gas exploration today is because it is stuffed full of so-called source rocks. The scorching temperatures within the Earth then cooked the source rocks, turning them from lipid-rich to oil-and-gas-rich.
How did the Gulf of Mexico oil spill affect humans?
The long-term effects of the BP oil spill on exposed cleanup workers produced an increased prevalence of illness symptoms such as shortness of breath, headaches, skin rash, chronic cough, weakness, dizzy spells, painful joints, and chest pain 7 years after their exposure to the oil spill.
