One year ago, the world watched as an environmental catastrophe unfolded in the Gulf of Mexico. This article recalls the event:
"On the night of April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon, a rig operated by Transocean Ltd., burst into flames as it was drilling a well for BP PLC., killing 11 workers on or near the drilling floor. The rest of the crew evacuated, but two days later the rig toppled into the Gulf and sank to the sea floor. The bodies were never recovered.
Over the next 85 days, 206 million gallons of oil -- 19 times more than the Exxon Valdez spilled -- spewed from the well. In response, the nation commandeered the largest offshore fleet of vessels since D-Day, and BP spent billions of dollars to clean up the mess, saving itself from collapse."
The photo gallery seen here is well worth the time to page through the 33 pictures, as a remembrance of the 11 lives tragically lost, and a recognition of "the real cost of oil."
Posted by: Kristin Brekke, Communications Director, American Coalition for Ethanol
