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One Year Later, Deepwater Horizon by the Numbers

The numbers tell the story of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy and the nation's worst ever oil spill that resulted.

Ben Jervey
By Ben JerveyApr 22, 2011
Ben Jervey
Ben is a writer and editor covering climate change, energy, and environment, and is currently the Climate and Energy Media Fellow at Vermont Law School. He was the original Environment Editor at GOOD Magazine and his work has appeared regularly in National Geographic News, Grist, DeSmogBlog, and OnEarth. He recently worked with the non-profit Focus the Nation to publish an Energy 101 primer. When living in New York City, he wrote a book, The Big Green Apple, on how to live a lower impact life in the city. A bicycle enthusiast, Ben has ridden across the United States and through much of Europe.
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The Deepwater Horizon tragedy and Gulf oil spill, by the numbers.

Number of workers killed on the Deepwater Horizon ultra-deepwater, dynamically positioned, semi-submersible offshore oil drilling rig owned by Transocean during the explosion on April 20, 2010: 11

Official estimate of volume of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico: 4.9 million barrels

Volume of chemical dispersants sprayed into the Gulf: 1.07 million gallons

Percent of Gulf residents and clean-up workers that were exposed to oil or dispersant who experienced an "abnormal increase" in symptoms such as cough, eye irritation, headache, and sinus irritation, according to a Louisiana Bucket Brigade survey: 72 percent

Miles of shoreline that remain "heavily or moderately" oiled, according to NOAA chief Jane Lubchenco: 66

Number of dead dolphins that have washed ashore in the Gulf during this calving season: More than 150

Number of oil spill-related bills that were introduced to the 111th Congress: 101

Number of oil spill-related bills that were enacted into law: 0

Cash paid out of BP's $20 billion oil spill compensation fund to date: $3.8 billion

Number of recipients—people and businesses—of compensation to date: 180,000

Number of claims filed: 857,000

Percentage of Americans who favor more offshore drilling, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted this month: 66 percent (PDF)

Number of inspectors responsible for the more than 3,500 drilling rigs and pumping platforms in the Gulf: 60

Increase in number of these offshore rig inspectors since the Deepwater Horizon explosion: 4

Percentage that domestic offshore oil production has decreased from 2010, largely due to the Obama administration's moratorium on deep offshore drilling: 13 percent

Percentage that overall domestic oil production has decreased from January 2010 through January 2011 (the latest month for which numbers are available): 0

Percent of offshore acres already under lease by oil companies that are inactive, not yet producing, nor subject to any further permitting or approval: 70 percent

Barrels of oil untapped by oil companies sitting on these unused leases: 11 billion

Length of BP's "A Year of Change" video, featuring Chief Executive Bob Dudley discussing what it has done to remedy the spill's damage and improve its safety practices: 20 minutes

Pages in the National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling's final report to the President: 306 (not including end notes)

Recommendations in the commission's report that have been adopted by Congress: 0

photo via Greenpeace

numbersstatisticsbpgulf of mexicodeepwater horizongulf spilltransocean

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