BP Oil Disaster Impact and Lessons Learned

On April 20, 2010, the BP Deepwater Horizon spill dumped more than 4.1 million barrels of crude into the Gulf region over 87 days (Walsh et al., On the Edge). The oil and gas industry developed new technologies in pursuit of valuable energy supplies, venturing into deeper waters farther from the coastline (National Commission, 85). Regulators, however, failed to keep up with the industrial expansion and new technology -- often because of industry's resistance to more effective oversight (Juhas 11). This led to a major shortfall in the supervision of offshore drilling. Companies cited for negligence included well owner BP, Switzerland-based rig owner Transocean and cement contractor Halliburton. A major blowout -- a high-pressure ball of gas, mud and oil that shot up from the oil reservoir -- killed eleven crewmembers and seriously injured several others (Klein 12). In the end, fire engulfed...
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