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Explosion and fire on the BP-licensed Transocean drilling rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven people were reported missing and approximately 17 injured.
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The coast guard says the flow of oil is 5,000bpd, five times greater than first estimated, after a third leak is discovered. BP's attempts to repair a hydraulic leak on the blowout preventer valve are unsuccessful.
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President Obama talks about the spill at the White House, his first public comments on the issue. He pledges "every single available resource", including the US military, to contain the spreading spill, and also says BP is responsible for the cleanup.
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Titanic director James Cameron assists the clean-up process.
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BP begin their latest attempt to seal the leak. Robots remove a leaking cap from the well, to allow a replacement containment system to be installed.
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BP says the 'static kill' attempt to stop the oil leak has been successful, though more mud may still have to be pumped into the well to close it permanently.
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BP announces it is a fortnight away from permanently sealing the Deepwater Horizon oil well leak.
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BP finally seals off the ruptured well. Five months after Deepwater Horizon blew, a cement plug leaves it "effectively dead".
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BP's clean-up costs following the explosion of Deepwater Horizon nears $10bn
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National fish and wildlife federation more than $100 million for Gulf Coast environmental projects
