What occurred during the Deepwater Horizon incident?

• A. 2010 oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico, a deep water oil rig exploded releasing the largest amount of oil ever
• B. 2005 spill in the Atlantic
• C. 2012 spill in the Pacific
• D. 1995 spill in the Gulf

Answer: (A)

During the Deepwater Horizon incident, a deepwater drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico suffered a blowout that caused an explosion and the rig to sink. Oil then spilled into the Gulf, totaling about 4.9 million barrels over roughly 87 days, making it the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. Investigations pointed to failures in well design and cementing and a malfunctioning blowout preventer, underscoring the risks of deepwater drilling. The spill caused extensive environmental and economic damage and led to major reforms in offshore drilling safety and regulation. The other options refer to spills in different years and locations, so they don’t describe this event.