BP oil spill: The economic and environmental cost, 5 years later - Action News
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BP oil spill: The economic and environmental cost, 5 years later

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and started spilling oil into the sea. Five years after the largest marine oil spill in history, the financial and environmental costs continues to climb. Heres a look at the numbers surrounding the spill and its aftermath.

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, which was owned by Transocean and leased by British energy giant BP, exploded and started spilling oil into the sea.

Eleven workers died and 17 were injured, and it took 87 days to cap the well and stop the flow of oil.

Five years after the largest marine oil spill in history, the cost continues to climb for the companies associated with the accident. Environmental issues also persist.

Here's a look at the numbers surrounding the spill and its aftermath(all figures in US dollars).



Correction Notice

This story originally reported that, "BP still faces billions of dollars in potential fines for negligence under the Clean Water Act (CWA). A court ruling in September found BP guilty of gross negligence and fined the company $13.7 billion." In fact, as of April 17, 2015, when this story was published, BP had not been fined. TheU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana ruled in January 2015 that BP was liable for a release of 3.19 million barrels of oil into the Gulf and that it was subject to up to $13.7 billion US in fines, but the courthas not yet decided theamount of the fine.