Publication

This report highlights actions taken and issues raised as a result of the April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig, and the resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In the aftermath of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig on April 20, 2010, the federal government and responsible parties faced an unprecedented challenge in the Gulf of Mexico. Never before had a subsea drilling system blowout of this magnitude, or an oil spill of this size occurred in U.S. waters. As of the date of this report, the uncontrolled flow of oil appears to be contained, but response activity will continue for some time.