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Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: A Case Study

Fifteen years ago, an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig started what would lead to the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history — leaving an unprecedented impact on the Gulf’s coastal resources and the people who depend on them. Learn more about the incident, response efforts and tools, and the advancements in science that better enable teams to support future events.

Fire boats respond to the blaze at Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig on April 21, 2010. Image credit: U.S. Coast Guard.
Last updated Thursday, April 24, 2025 9:06am PDT