Deepwater Horizon oil spill

The 2010 explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig killed 11 workers and triggered a well blowout that released millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Macondo well: The BP-operated exploratory well in the Gulf of Mexico that blew out in April 2010. Its uncontrolled release of oil began the disaster.
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling: A U.S. presidential commission that investigated the spill and issued findings in 2011. Its report traced interacting engineering, management, and regulatory failures.
Gulf of Mexico dead zone: A seasonal region of low oxygen in the northern Gulf that can harm marine life. It illustrates a regional ecological pressure considered alongside spill impacts.
Deepwater Horizon: A dynamically positioned offshore drilling rig that exploded and sank in April 2010. The rig was the site of the fatal explosion and the source platform for the spill.
Blowout preventer: A seafloor safety device designed to seal a well when drilling pressure becomes dangerous. Its failure to stop the Macondo well flow left the leak uncontrolled.
BP: A multinational energy company that operated the Macondo well and held its largest ownership stake. BP’s operating decisions and safety practices became central to investigations.
Oil spill response: Actions to contain, remove, and mitigate oil released into the environment. The response used booms, skimming, controlled burns, and chemical dispersants.
Gulf of Mexico: A marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean bordered by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Its waters and coasts received the spill’s direct environmental and economic effects.
Cementing: The process of pumping cement into a well to secure casing and isolate underground formations. The cement barrier at the bottom of the Macondo well failed to contain hydrocarbons.
Transocean: An offshore drilling contractor that owned and operated the Deepwater Horizon rig. Its rig and crew were involved in the explosion and emergency response.

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