The Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Описание: On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon, a massive semi submersible drilling rig located in the Gulf of Mexico, suffered a catastrophic blowout. A surge of natural gas blasted through the concrete well cap and shot up the drill pipe at incredible speeds. The gas ignited instantly, creating a massive fireball that was visible from over 35 miles away on the coast of Louisiana.

The horror of the event was the sheer physical force of the pressure failure. The rig was engulfed in a series of explosions that destroyed the living quarters and lifeboats, trapping many of the 126 crew members on board. Eleven men, including Jason Anderson and Shane Roshto, were killed instantly by the blast or drowned when the 33,000 ton vessel finally sank into the deep ocean.

The disaster resulted in the largest marine oil spill in history, releasing millions of barrels of crude into the environment. Investigators eventually found that the blowout preventer, a massive safety device on the sea floor, had a mechanical failure that prevented it from sealing the well. As of 2025, the case is fully solved and remains the most expensive industrial accident in human history, leading to permanent changes in offshore drilling regulations and emergency response protocols.