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9/17/2026
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtla.us
Sep 17 2026 1138 am CDT
CrimeBox
Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2013; Case ID# CR_2468 (Louisiana)
Deepwater Horizon - BP sentenced to $4 billion in penalties for the most tragic and destructive CWA violation of all time
At around 9:45 pm April 20, 2010, the Transocean oil drilling platform Deepwater Horizon, experienced a catastrophic blow-out. The drilling riser recorded rapidly accelerating internal pressure prior to erupting in a torrent of seawater, mud and methane and gas. Records indicate the geyser reached 240 feet in the air before the extracted fossil fuels exploded. The resulting firestorm collapsed the rig's crane, crushing structures on deck. Eleven men lost their lives that night. May their souls rest in peace.
The Dept of Justice Archives contain the Nov 2012 press release detailing the conviction of BP Exploration and Production Inc. for "crimes surrounding Deepwater Horizon Incident". The Defendant plead guilty to the Clean Water Act violation, Migratory Birds Act violation and 11 counts Felony Manslaughter. For illegal acts following the disaster, the Defendant plead guilty to Obstruction of Congress, accepting the $4 billion financial penalty and maximum term of probation.
The Defendant in this case, leased and operated the semi-submersible drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, owned and staffed by Transocean. At the time of the incident, the rig was anchored down to sea floor at the Macondo well project, just over 40 miles from Venice, Louisiana. Investigators from the Deepwater Horizon Incident Task Force found two of BP's representatives, referred to as "Well Site Leaders", being in charge and on board at the time of the explosion, responsible for the deaths of eleven workers and the horrendous environmental disaster that followed. (manslaughter charges against the individuals were dropped in 2015.)
The Defendant plead guilty to all 14 charges in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance, noting the historic fine imposed was meant to cause the Defendant to "feel the full brunt" of responsibility, while the court would supervise the implementation of safeguards that ought to have prevented the tragedy.
The Defendant admitted its representatives were aware the instability of the well the night before the blowout. In spite of these signals, the Defendant's representatives pressed Transocean workers and contractors to skip safety steps, to expedite completion of the already overdue project. The conduct of the Defendant's representatives was determined the cause for the incident.
Following the blowout, the Defendant admitted to making false statements to the US Congress inquiry panel, misrepresenting the extent of the ongoing contamination, the open well spewed daily into Gulf waters for 87 days before it was contained. The same senior BP executive failed to turn over documents subpoenaed by the U.S. House of Representatives, offering false flow-rate data, 5000 barrels per day. In spite of the Defendant's own scientists estimating a much higher volume, the statement offered to the public was downplayed by an order of magnitude. A special committee of government and independent scientists, the Flow Rate Technical Group found more than 60,000 barrels per day leaked in to the Gulf over nearly three months the well remained uncapped.
The total federal fine of $4 billion included $2.4 billion criminal recovery for restoration of "the marine and coastal environments, ecosystems and bird and wildlife habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and bordering states harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill." $350 million was assessed to fund "research, development, education and training" in spill prevention and response.
The Defendant received the maximum sentence of probation allowed by the law, five years, in order that the court may supervise the company's development and implementation of risk and safety protocols. An independent risk management monitor and independent auditor were appointed by the court to oversee the Defendant's safety and risk mitigation actions, including oversight of equipment maintenance on BP's operations in the Gulf. Further, the Defendant was ordered to submit to an "ethics monitor", addressing representatives future conduct.
The guilty plea and sentence announced November 2012 were part and parcel of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Deepwater Horizon Task Force. Charges against individuals are outside this case.
Federal Fines: $2,600,000,000; Restitution: $2,400,000,000; Probation: 60 months
See last week's CrimeBox here, "Complacency and negligence cost this oil and gas producer $3.1 million and 3 years probation for felony violation of the Clean Water Act"
Deepwater Horizon Task Force, based in New Orleans, was supervised by Assistant Attorney General Breuer and led by Deputy Assistant Attorney General John D. Buretta. DOJ's Criminal Prosecutors from the Environment and Natural Resources Division were assisted by US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The task force was supported by investigators from the FBI, the US EPA Criminal Investigative Division, the EPA Office of Inspector General, the Department of Interior Office of Inspector General, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement; US Coast Guard, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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