Deepwater Horizon explosion

On April 20, 2010, an explosion and fire occurred on the Deepwater Horizon semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit, which was owned and operated by Transocean and drilling for BP in the Macondo Prospect oil field about 40 miles (64 km) southeast off the Louisiana coast. The explosion and subsequent fire resulted in the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon and the deaths of 11 workers; 17 others were injured. The same blowout that caused the explosion also caused an oil well fire and a massive offshore oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in the world, and the largest environmental disaster in United States history.

This article is about the explosion of the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon. For the subsequent oil spill, see Deepwater Horizon oil spill. For other related articles, see Deepwater Horizon (disambiguation).

Deepwater Horizon explosion
Anchor handling tugs and platform supply vessels combat the fire on the Deepwater Horizon while the United States Coast Guard searches for missing crew.
DateApril 20, 2010 (2010-04-20)
Time22:00 (24-hour) 10:00 PM (12-hour) UTC-6
LocationGulf of Mexico, Louisiana, U.S. 28°44′12″N 88°23′14″W
Deaths11 (presumed)
Non-fatal injuries17
Crew126
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Deepwater Horizon oil spill
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