The '' Deepwater Horizon '' oil spill was a major industrial accident on the Gulf of Mexico , which killed 11 people and injured 16 others , leaked about of oil with plus or minus 10 % uncertainty , which makes it the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry , and cost to the company more than $ 65 billion of cleanup costs , charges and penalties . On 20 April 2010 , the semi-submersible exploratory offshore drilling rig '' Deepwater Horizon '' located in the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico exploded after a blowout . After burning for two days , the rig sank . The well was finally capped on 15 July 2010 . Of of leaked oil was collected or burned while entered the Gulf waters . of Corexit dispersant was applied
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Deepwater Horizon explosion
BP