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BP oil rig explosin
An explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 52 miles (84km) south-east of Venice, Louisiana, kills 11 workers. Operator Transocean, under contract for BP, says it had no warning of trouble ahead of the blast. -
BP covers the oil spill
After 85 days, BP manages to stanch the leak with a massive cap. -
BP oil clean up
US scientists say the oil from the well has cleared from the sea surface faster than expected, 100 days after the disaster began. -
The government totals
The US government says the oil spill is officially the biggest leak ever, with 4.9 million barrels of oil leaked before the well was capped last month. Scientists said only a fifth of the leaking oil - around 800,000 barrels - was captured during the clean-up operation. -
Breaking down the oil
The US government says three-quarters of the oil spilled in the Gulf has been cleaned up or broken down by natural forces. -
Fixing the damage
BP pumps cement to seal the damaged well after it was intercepted by a relief well. -
Well is plugged
The well is plugged for good when cement is pumped into it through one of two relief wells. -
Paying felony
BP agrees to pay $4.5 billion and plead guilty to felony counts relating to the death of 11 rig workers and lying to Congress. -
Justice department
The Justice Department files suit against BP and eight other companies, seeking to hold them liable for removal costs and damages caused by the explosion and spill under the Clean Water Act. -
Coast gaurd helps
Coast Guard scales back its disaster response efforts in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, freeing BP from active cleanup of the oil spill.
