The Gulf Oil Spill

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On April 20th 2010 a catastrophic explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico caused what was soon to become one of the most horrendous and controversial issues of 2010. The cause of this dramatic event was uncertain and, therefore, called for an investigation team to get to the bottom of the situation. Through a review of rig audit findings and maintenance records, the investigation team found indications of potential weaknesses in the testing regime and maintenance management system for the BOP. The team did not identify any single action or inaction that caused this accident. Rather, a complex and interlinked series of mechanical failures, human judgments, engineering design, operational implementation and team interfaces came together to allow the initiation and escalation of the accident. Multiple companies, work teams and circumstances were involved over time (BP Internal Investigation Team). From that one explosion, seventeen people were injured and eleven people were missing and eventually pronounced dead (BP Oil Spill Timeline). Owing to the fact that the enormity of this oil spill did not only leave casualties, but also affected the world in many ways soon to come such as environmentally, economically, and politically.

Two days after the catastrophe, On April 22nd, the first signs of oil in the water were documented. A five-mile long oil slick right outside the location of the sunken rig laid the foundation for the troublesome times ahead. Coastguard officials in New Orleans said the spill, from the Deepwater Horizon rig, covered an estimated 10 square miles. Oil officials initially feared up to 336,000 gallons of crude oil a day could rise from the sea (BP Oil Spill Timeline). This was the first sign of what was soo...

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...nse Council, 26 Oct. 2010. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

Nijhuis, Michelle. “A Crude Awakening in the Gulf of Mexico.” Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Institution, Sept. 2010. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

“NOAA and FDA Announce Chemical Test for Dispersant in Gulf Seafood; All Samples Test Within Safety Threshold.” NOAA News. NOAA, 29 Oct. 2010. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

Obama, Barack. Remarks by the President on the Ongoing Oil Spill Response. Washington, D.C. 14 May 2010. Address.

Oxford Economics. “Potential Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill on Tourism.” U.S. Travel Assn., 22 July 2010. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

Walsh, Bryan. “The Far-Ranging Costs of the Mess in the Gulf.” Time Magazine. Time Inc., 6 May 2010. Web. 2 Nov. 2010.

Yeoman, Barry. “Gulf Shrimpers Wonder: ‘Are We Next on the Extinction List?’” OnEarth Magazine. National Resources Defense Council, 8 Nov. 2010. Web. 8 Nov. 2010.

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