What was the biggest oil rig explosion?
Deepwater Horizon
On April 20, 2010, the oil drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, operating in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded and sank resulting in the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon and the largest spill of oil in the history of marine oil drilling operations.
What caused the April 20 2010 oil rig explosion?
At approximately 7:45 pm CDT, on 20 April 2010, high-pressure methane gas from the well expanded into the marine riser and rose into the drilling rig, where it ignited and exploded, engulfing the platform.
Why did the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explode?
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.
Did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affect growth of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico?
Summary: Nearly all of the Red Snapper sampled in the Gulf of Mexico over a six-year period following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill showed evidence of liver damage. The team sampled nearly 570 fish from 72 Gulf locations between 2011 to 2017 in the wake of the historic 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
How many offshore oil rigs have exploded?
Home » Frequently Asked Questions » Oilfield Accidents » How Many Offshore Oil Rigs Have Exploded? Between 2007 and 2018, 33 offshore oil rigs exploded in the United States, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
Who was at fault for the Deepwater Horizon explosion?
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 is the effects of Deepwater Horizon to marine life and environment?
Marine mammal researchers concluded that exposure to the oil caused a wide range of adverse health effects such as reproductive failure and organ damage, and that animals killed by these adverse effects contributed to the largest and longest marine mammal unusual mortality event ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico.
How common are oil rig explosions?
Thankfully, offshore oil rig explosions are relatively rare, but when they do occur, they have catastrophic consequences, including a high number of fatalities and catastrophic injuries. Some of the major offshore oil rig explosions from around the world and the aftermath they caused are discussed below.