Deepwater Horizon investigation
| This article is part of a series about the |
| Deepwater Horizon oil spill |
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The Deepwater Horizon investigation refers to multiple inquiries conducted in response to the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred on April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico.
The disaster, caused by a blowout on the BP-operated Macondo Prospect, resulted in the largest marine oil spill in history, with significant environmental, economic, and legal consequences. Investigations were launched by various U.S. government agencies, independent commissions, and BP itself to determine the causes of the explosion, assess regulatory failures, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The investigation included several investigations and commissions, among others reports by National Incident Commander Thad Allen, United States Coast Guard, National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, National Academy of Engineering, National Research Council, Government Accountability Office, National Oil Spill Commission, and Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
These investigations uncovered a series of safety lapses, regulatory oversights, and corporate decisions that contributed to the disaster, ultimately leading to major legal settlements, regulatory reforms, and stricter offshore drilling policies.