BP and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (A) and (B)

An April 20, 2010 explosion on board the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil-drilling platform killed 11 workers, injured 17 and triggered a leak that spilled more than 206 million gallons of oil over miles of coastline and fishing waters. This case discusses the events that led to the disaster and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It also outlines key figures within BP’s organization and how they factored into the long and difficult corporate communications process.