But, unlike many films based on true events, Deepwater Horizon actually stays remarkably close to real life. The film chronicles the last moments on the drilling rig for which the movie is named in remarkable detail.

What happened to the real Deepwater Horizon?

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, killing 11 people. Two days later, the rig capsized, and the damaged pipe below the rig began spewing oil into the surrounding water.

How much did the survivors of Deepwater Horizon get?

In March 2012, BP settled with them for $7.8 billion. As part of the settlement, it agreed to replace Feinberg with Patrick Juneau, a lawyer from Lafayette, La. The settlement made it much easier for companies and people to get compensation without any serious documentation.

Did they really jump off Deepwater Horizon?

Did Mike Williams really jump from an incredible height to escape the burning rig? Yes, the chief electronics technician on the Deepwater Horizon, Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg in the movie), jumped 10 stories into the Gulf of Mexico in order to escape the flames that had engulfed the rig.

Did Jimmy survive Deepwater Horizon?

(AP) — Jimmy Harrell, a supervisor on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, has died at age 65. Harrell, who worked for rig owner Transocean, died Monday, according to Wolf Funeral Home in Morton, Mississippi. He had battled cancer for a year.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster: A Survivor's Story

35 related questions found

Who was at fault for Deepwater Horizon?

Donald Vidrine, one of the two BP rig supervisors overseeing the Deepwater Horizon when the rig exploded in April 2010, died Saturday at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana after a three-year battle with cancer.

What caused the Deepwater Horizon to explode?

The emergency valve designed to cap the well in case of an accident, the “blowout protector,” failed, and the gas reached the drill rig, triggering an explosion that killed 11 crewmembers.

Is Andrea Fleytas a real person?

In fact, the real Andrea Fleytas testified before the Marine Board that she was overwhelmed by more than 10 magenta warning lights going off at once and failed to sound the general alarm when she had the authority to do so.

Why didn't the alarms go off on Deepwater Horizon?

Williams told the hearing today that no alarms went off on the day of the explosion because they had been "inhibited". Sensors monitoring conditions on the rig and in the Macondo oil well beneath it were still working, but the computer had been instructed not to trigger any alarms in case of adverse readings.

Who were the victims of Deepwater Horizon?

Today, we honor and remember each one.

• Aaron Dale Burkeen, 37, Philadelphia, Mississippi.
• Karl Kleppinger Jr., 38, Natchez, Mississippi.
• Dewey Revette, 48, of State Line, Mississippi.
• Shane Roshto, 22, Liberty, Mississippi.
• Donald Clark, 49, of Newellton, Louisiana.
• Stephen Ray Curtis, 40, of Georgetown, Louisiana.

Is BP still paying for Deepwater Horizon?

Total BP money paid out pushing $60 billion

Almost 10 years since the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and five years from the settlement was announced, BP oil money is still coming to Tampa Bay. Clearwater officials confirmed the Crest Lake renovation is all of the money from their settlement.

Is the Deepwater Horizon still on the ocean floor?

The Deepwater Horizon rig continues to sit on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico in water that is over 5,000 feet in depth.

How many animals died from the BP oil spill?

We found that the spill likely harmed or killed about 82,000 birds of 102 species; about 6,165 sea turtles; as many as 25,900 marine mammals; and a vast (but unknown) number of fish — from the great bluefin tuna to our nation's smallest seahorse — plus oysters, crabs, corals and other creatures.

What is a magenta alarm?

Magenta Living Community Alarm Service provides an alarm unit, which allows you, or your relatives, to live independently without feeling at risk.

What was the worst oil rig disaster?

Piper Alpha

The North Sea disaster on Piper Alpha remains the worst oil rig disaster ever. The tragic event claimed the lives of 167 people on 6 July 1988. A communication error between shift changes resulted in a gas leakage which triggered multiple explosions on the platform. Of the 226 workers, only 61 survived.

Who went to jail for the BP oil spill?

Donald Vidrine, 68, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval in New Orleans, in accordance with a plea agreement in which the defendant admitted to the negligent discharge of oil, a Clean Water Act violation.

How did the Deepwater Horizon affect humans?

A similar study found that citizens on the Gulf Coast had increased levels of anxiety, depression, and respiratory issues that lasted for several years after the catastrophe. Other coastal residents had similar symptoms including skin rashes, muscle cramps, pneumonia, migraines, and much more.

Who was president during Deepwater Horizon?

On 30 April 2010, President Barack Obama ordered the federal government to delay issuing new offshore drilling leases until a thorough review determined whether more safety systems were needed and authorized teams to investigate 29 oil rigs in the Gulf in an effort to determine the cause of the disaster.

Did any BP employees died on Deepwater Horizon?

The explosion and subsequent fire resulted in the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon and the deaths of 11 workers; 17 others were injured.

How many birds were killed by the BP oil spill?

Deepwater Horizon oil spill killed as many as 102,000 birds across 93 species.

How did they clean-up the BP oil spill?

In the case of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, clean-up workers treated the oil with over 1.4 million gallons of various chemical dispersants. Typically such large amounts are sprayed over the open ocean from an airplane or helicopter. ... It's possible that life in the deep sea was exposed to the dispersant-oil mixture.

How long did it take BP to cap the oil spill?

A roller coaster ride of confusion and turmoil followed the BP Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and spill, which lasted an unimaginable 87-days. Finally, on July 15, 2010, the spewing well 5,000 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico was capped at last.

How many bodies were recovered from the Ocean Ranger?

It became Canada's worst tragedy at sea since the Second World War. The bodies of 22 men were eventually recovered, some floating in life jackets in the icy North Atlantic waters and others in smashed lifeboats.

How long did it take to clean Deepwater Horizon?

Nine years ago, BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded off the coast of Louisiana, causing the worst oil spill in US history. The disaster on April 20, 2010 killed 11 workers as the flaming rig sank into the Gulf of Mexico. It took nearly three months to stem the flow of oil from the ruptured undersea well.

Where was Deepwater Horizon filmed?

To shoot that scene, Berg and his crew packed up and shot at a real-life Port Fourchon facility -- described by Berg as a “helicopter airport” -- from which oil workers, including those who were headed for the Deepwater Horizon on that day in 2010, depart for extended stints offshore.