What was the cause of the BP Horizon accident?
The central cause of the explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig was a failure of the cement at the base of the 18,000-foot-deep well that was supposed to contain oil and gas within the well bore.
Who was at fault for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
BP
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said BP was mostly to blame for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster, which killed 11 people and spewed oil into the water for 87 days. Barbier attributed 67% of the fault to BP, 30% to Transocean, which owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, and 3% to Halliburton, the cement contractor.
What damage did Deepwater Horizon cause?
BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused $17.2 billion in environmental damage to the Gulf of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon disaster is considered the largest marine oil spill in United States history.
What was the punishment for the BP oil spill?
BP Exploration and Production Inc. pleaded guilty to 14 criminal counts for its illegal conduct leading to and after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, and was sentenced to pay $4 billion in criminal fines and penalties, the largest criminal resolution in U.S. history, Attorney General Holder announced today.
What could have prevented the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
Safety upgrades are critical but could mean higher prices for oil and gas. A culture of tighter safety and more experienced regulators might have prevented the BP Deepwater Horizon leak. But equipment modifications and new technology will be needed to minimize the risk of such deepwater oil leaks.
How did BP violate the Clean Water Act?
At the end of last month, the Gulf Restoration Network, Louisiana Environmental Action Network and Environment America sent a formal notice letter to BP that charges the company with violating the act because it has discharged oil into the gulf, and failed to measure the oil’s plume and flow and to remove the oil.
How could the oil spill have been prevented?
Use automatic nozzle shutoffs to reduce the potential for overfilling fuel tanks. Set up an oil-recycling program to deliver used oil to a designated collection site. Keep spill control equipment readily available. Properly dispose of used oil and fuel-absorbent materials.