Completing the response
The Deepwater Horizon accident triggered an extensive oil spill response
From the beginning, BP worked under the direction of the Unified Command to fight the spill and minimize its impact on the environment and human health by containing, removing and dispersing the oil offshore, and by implementing strategies to protect the shoreline and clean up oil that came ashore.
At its peak in 2010, the response effort involved the mobilization of approximately 48,000 people, the coordination of approximately 6,500 vessels and the deployment of approximately 2,500 miles (13.5 million feet) of boom to contain or absorb the oil. Local commercial fishermen, vessel owners and many others helped with clean-up and shoreline protection activities, and BP employees and retirees brought their expertise from around the world. At the end of 2012, approximately 800 people and 100 vessels were supporting the response effort.
To help guide response and clean-up activities, the US Coast Guard’s federal on-scene coordinator commissioned several reports by the Operational Science Advisory Team, comprised of scientists representing federal agencies and BP. The reports are helping to define what is known scientifically about the fate of the oil and the potential impacts to human health, aquatic life, wildlife and the environment.
Attestation
The information on this page forms part of the information reviewed and reported on by Ernst & Young as part of BP's 2012 sustainability reporting.
Related link
How we're working to prevent and mitigate accidents across our operations
Helping to advance industry capability through knowledge-sharing
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