Deepwater Horizon oil spill

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was a major environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which began when an explosion and fire destroyed the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, leased by the oil company BP, and killed eleven workers. Oil then flowed from the damaged Macondo well on the seabed for nearly three months, while attempts to cap it failed, until it was finally sealed. It is regarded as the largest marine oil spill in history, polluting the coast of several US states and harming fisheries, tourism and wildlife, including birds, turtles and dolphins. The investigations blamed failures in cement, safety systems and management by BP and its contractors. BP paid billions of dollars in fines and settlements.

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