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BP’s Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: What Went Wrong
Elizabeth D. Jones
Southern New Hampshire University
Student: 0811981

Abstract
On April 20th 2010 the Deepwater Horizon rig, operated by BP, exploded unleashing millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico resulting in the largest marine oil spill in history. What makes this spill so significant is the fact that the spill continued unabated for three months causing the declaration of a state of emergency across several states (Bozeman, 2011). The purpose of this study is to highlight the significant issues of management and leadership within BP and point out how the poor decisions surrounding the spill deeply hindered their corporate reputation. Additionally, the paper will offer ways in which BP and those involved could have possibly prevented this disaster or have better mitigated the impact had the catastrophe still occurred. Managing risks, monitoring safety, effective communication and ownership of faults are all solutions that if implemented can help BP restore their reputation and prevent misfortunes like this from happening in the future.

BP’s Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: What Went Wrong
British Petroleum (BP),

In the early evening of April 20th, 2010 uncontrolled hydrocarbons escaped causing an explosion on the oil-drilling platform Deepwater Horizon resulting in one of the worst environmental disasters in world history. Within 36 hours the massive oil rig, approximately 300 by 300 feet had deteriorated and sunk into the Gulf. Eleven inhabitants on the rig died as a result of the explosion and this was just the beginning of the damage. Crude oil gushed from the uncapped well for over three months and it was not until September of 2010 that the well was completely sealed. The result was a sheen that spread out to over more than 88,000 square miles and made

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