How AUVs Are Used To Spot Oil Plumes After A Spill
(The Conversation)- On April 20, 2010, the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded, burned, sank in the Gulf of Mexico and terrified the world. This horrific accident — recorded as...
Just a few days ago, the Deepwater Horizon’s blowout preventer, an integral part of the ongoing investigation into Gulf oil spill, was successfully removed from the MC252 well by Helix’s Q4000 and, after 29 1/2 hours, was lifted to the surface on September 4 at 8:53 p.m. CDT. FBI agents were among the 137 people on board the Q4000 when the BOP was raised, according to AP.
The BOP is now in the hands of the U.S. Department of Justice as evidence and will eventually undergo extensive forensics tests. Meanwhile, the results from an internal investigation from BP into the causes of the Gulf oil spill is expected to be published tomorrow where, according to the Wallstreet Journal, BP will assign some of the blame to itself but also hold other companies responsible for the various decisions that led to the explosion
Keep reading after the jump for more imagery.
Updated: February 5, 2026 (Originally published September 7, 2010)
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