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Faulty Blow-out Preventer Equipment & Testing
BP was reportedly using a faulty blow-out preventer. Several instruments and components of the Deepwater Horizon's preventer were outdated and were only the prototype versions. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). Additionally, BP was notorious for cheating and falsifying blow-out preventer tests for a long time. One "whistle blowing" employee claimed that he personally saw over a dozen fake tests at BP facilities. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
Period: to
Pre-Spill Period
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Stopped Well Cement Lining Tests
According to sources within BP, the workers had no plans on conducting the cement lining tests. The third party oil field testing agency was constantly ignored or put "on hold". The tests that were ignored are considered almost full-proof. An unsuccessful test would have alerted workers of a potentially dangerous situation. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). BP also was blamed for potentially using quick and cheap methods to fix a suspected pipe problem several days prior to the explosion.(2010) -
Explosion & Fire on Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig
BP sanctioned equipment failed to prevent crude oil to release. This failure of equipment led to the explosion and fire that ensued. ("Deepwater Horizon Rig Disaster", N.d). 11 people reported as missing and up to 20 people reported as injured. ("Deepwater Horizon Rig Disaster", N.d.). -
Period: to
Explosion & Oil Leakage Period
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Deepwater Horizon Sinks
Following the initial explosion, emergency vehicles were sent to fight the powerful fire. After two days of fighting the explosion, the Horizon sinks. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). U.S. Coast Guard begins search and rescue missions for 11 missing employees, the oil slick is estimated as five miles long. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
Feared Oil Leakage Confirmed
Initial reactions of government and BP officials were that the situation would have no long term environmental or economic impacts on the local community and environment. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). Underwater robots confirm that oil is indeed leaking from the active oil well. First estimated at 1,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Initial attempts to seal the well are taken. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
BP Stock Falls
Fearing large amounts of cost due to poor publicity, legal issues, and potential clean up expenses, stockholders quickly start selling shares. ("100 Days of the BP Spill: A Timeline", N.d.). The BP stock officially falls 2%. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
Oringinal Oil Leakage Estimate Misrepresentative
U.S. Coast Guard further discovers that the oil leakage could be as high as 5,000 barrels a day following a third leak being found. This updated estimate was five times greater than what was originally calculated at the start of the catastrophe. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). Controlled burning of the large oil slick starts today. (The Ocean Portal Team, N.d). -
U.S. Senate Committee Hearing
The energy and natural resources committee holds a meeting with the three major players in oil spill catastrophe. Transocean, Halliburton, and BP begin blaming each other for the true causes of the incident. Transocean was blamed since it was their rig. Halliburton was blamed for cement that the well was made out of. BP was blamed for management of poor maintenance on the rig. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
Oil Leakage Estimates Increased
Following the attempted tube solution that would greatly decrease the leak, the estimates of daily oil leakage increase to 20,000 barrels a day. The experts behind these estimations went to the Senate and described the situation before committee members. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). The restricted fishing areas were increased in size to almost 20% of the entire gulf. ("Deepwater Horizon Rig Disaster", N.d.). -
BP CEO Releases Controversial Statement
BP CEO Tony Hayward quoted in saying: "There's no one who wants this over more than I do. I would like my life back". This statement resulted in a large amount of anger and outrage from the conservationist community. ("100 Days of the BP Spill: A Timeline", N.d.). Several days earlier President Obama was unofficially quoted as saying: "Plug the damn hole". ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
BP Issues $10 Billion in Dividends
BP faces serious opposition from conservationist, political, and U.S. social community for issuing dividends less than 2 months since beginning of spill. ("100 Days of the BP Spill: A Timeline", N.d.). BP launches new campaign within the U.S. to ensure the public that the crisis is indeed being addressed. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
Fitch Lowers BP's Credit Rating
Fitch rating company reevaluates BP's current credit rating, and decides to lower the rating 6 whole levels. ("100 Days of the BP Spill: A Timeline", N.d.). This change in rating occurs several days before the disaster turns officially two months old. Also, two days prior to this poor rating the scientists adjust the daily leakage total to 40,000 barrels. ("Deepwater Horizon Rig Disaster", N.d.). President Obama compares the BP oil spill to 9/11. -
Shares of BP Reach 14 Year Low
Following a report that BP's cleanup bill will reach as high as $2.35 billion, the BP shares reach a price of $304 per share. This price is the lowest that BP's shares has reached in 14 years. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). There is also an increase in pressure on Hayward to resign, and a new failure of BP's temporary cap. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
BP & Oil Spill Beginning to Improve
BP share prices begin to rise after a report that they are looking for more international investors. The increase in share price is also sparked by a report that BP has a new, long term solution for the leak. Following an appellate court ruling, drilling is resumed in several areas within the nearby region and new drilling is approved. Ruling is judged as controversial due to continued leaking problems at BP site. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
BP Officially Stops the Leak
BP's latest attempt to stop by flow of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico is deemed as successful! While the public is overjoyed to hear the news, plenty of experts are skeptical of the true impact of the latest attempt. ("Deepwater Horizon Rig Disaster", N.d.). -
Period: to
Short-Term Impacts Period
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Greenpeace Activists Strike & Tony Hayward Resigns
Greenpeace activists claim responsibility for shutting down over 50 different BP locations by removing safety switches. Tony Hayward resigns from BP CEO position. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). Shell Oil Company is considering a lawsuit against BP for losses during ban on oil drilling in the gulf. Shell claims losses as high as $56 million. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
"Static Kill" Operation Seals Well
BP reports that the Static Kill operation conducted by the company has officially stopped the flow of leaking crude oil on a permanent basis. This comes several weeks after the company temporarily stopped the leak on July 15th. ("100 Days of the BP Spill: A Timeline", N.d.). -
BP Oil Spill Public Report
BP officially claims responsibility for the oil spill. BP also makes a statement within the report that the blame must be shared by multiple companies. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). Additionally, BP confirms the allegations that several warning signs were ignored before the initial explosion. Specifically, the warning system was shut off to allow the oil rig workers to sleep. ("Deepwater Horizon Rig Disaster", N.d.). -
BP Oil Well "Effectively Dead"
BP made the decision to completely seal off oil well that originally caused the oil spill. Cement was poured into the valve already filled with mud. BP looks to put incident behind them. (The Ocean Portal Team, N.d.). -
Bob Dudley Becomes BP CEO
The CEO position was vacant for a short time period after the resign of Tony Hayward. Tony Hayward continues to serve as a senior manager at BP, while Bob Dudley is assigned the new role of CEO. ("Deepwater Horizon Litigation, 2015). -
Estimated BP Costs Reach $40 billion
BP releases a statement that the estimated costs surrounding the entire oil spill disaster is around $40 billion. This number was substantially higher than what was previously estimated at the beginning of the issue. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). -
U.S. Government Sues BP
U.S. Government officially files a lawsuit against several companies expected to have helped cause the oil spill. The main company being sued is BP. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). The U.S. is looking for BP to pay for the cleanup of the disaster, as well as any damages to local businesses and the obvious harm that was done to the Gulf Coast and surrounding area. -
BP Officially Blamed for Spill by White House
After an investigation by the White House oil commission, the BP oil spill is officially labeled as "avoidable" by the White House. ("BP oil spill timeline", 2010). Following severe cost cutting measures, and the poor management within BP and its manufacturers, the failure of Deepwater Horizon was "inevitable". ("Deepwater Horizon Rig Disaster", N.d.). -
Period: to
Long-Term Impacts Period
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BP Pleads Guily to U.S. Lawsuit
Following several years of litigation and poor press, BP decides to make a bargain deal with the U.S. government. BP pleads guilty to the charges of environmental endangerment and is required to pay $4.5 billion in damages. ("Deepwater Horizon Litigation", 2015). Additionally, BP pleads guilty to felony counts surrounding the 11 workers that were killed in the disaster's initial explosion. ("Deepwater Horizon Litigation", 2015). -
Report of BP Oil Spill Long-term Impacts
While the impact of the BP oil spill over the past five years was less than what was expected, the massive damage the disaster created is still astounding. (Sherwell, 2015). The numbers behind the disaster are as follows:
11 people dead; $28 billion cleanup program; 134 million gallons of oil spilled; 1100 miles of coastline affected. (Sherwell, 2015). There is still a disagreement between BP and environmentalists about the real impacts the event had on the surrounding nature and economy.
