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[Skip to main content](https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/deepwater-oil-idr/#main) [Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/) # Containing and Cleaning Up the Deepwater Oil Rig Disaster On April 20, 2010, an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico sank the oil rig and created a leak that has spewed millions of gallons into the water. This report contains our ongoing coverage of this disaster. [TechnologyJune 9, 2010Drill BP, Drill: By Boring Relief Wells Closer to the Oil Reservoir BP Hopes to Up Odds of Success](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bp-relief-well-drilling/) The downside: by going deeper it will take another two months. In the meantime the oil company scrambles for temporary fixes Larry Greenemeier [June 8, 2010Delisted and in danger: Gulf oil spill threatens brown pelicans months after they are dropped from endangered species list](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/extinction-countdown/delisted-and-in-danger-gulf-oil-spill-threatens-brown-pelicans-months-after-they-are-dropped-from-endangered-species-list/) John Platt [EnvironmentJune 8, 2010Slosh and Berm: Building Sand Barriers off Louisiana's Coast to Hold Back Oil Spill Has Low Probability of Success](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-spill-may-change-shape-of-gulf-coast-louisiana/) The oil spill will not just have an environmental impact--the catastrophe, along with efforts to stop it, may reshape the geography of Louisiana's Gulf coast David Biello [EnvironmentJune 8, 2010Gulf Spillover: Will BP's Deepwater Disaster Change the Oil Industry?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/molotch-deepwater-environmental-sociology/) New York University sociologist Harvey Molotch compares the devastating 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill with Deepwater to see how far the U.S. government and the oil industry have--and have not--come Larry Greenemeier [TechnologyJune 4, 2010Scientists Will Monitor Deepwater Horizon Methane Plumes for Gulf Oil Spill Answers](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deepwater-methane-study/) A team of researchers is hoping that the study of methane will help more accurately calculate the extent of the oil spill and the Gulf's ability to break down the slick Larry Greenemeier [The SciencesJune 3, 2010How Will the Oil Spill Impact the Gulf's Dead Zone?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-will-the-oil-spill-impact-dead-zone/) Microbial activity could end up exacerbating waters with little oxygen--as could the coating of oil David Biello [TechnologyJune 1, 2010No relief in sight for BP's Deepwater oil containment operations as hurricane season arrives](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/no-relief-in-sight-for-bps-deepwater-oil-containment-operations-as-hurricane-season-arrives/) Larry Greenemeier [EnvironmentMay 27, 2010"Top kill" goes on into the night \[update\]](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/top-kill-goes-on-into-the-night-update/) David Biello [The SciencesMay 25, 2010Flood of oil, drought of research](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flood-of-oil-drought-of-resea/) Scientists frustrated as questions about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill go unanswered. [The SciencesMay 25, 2010Slick Solution: How Microbes Will Clean Up the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-microbes-clean-up-oil-spills/) Bacteria and other microbes are the only thing that will ultimately clean up the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico David Biello [EnvironmentMay 19, 2010Where Will the Deepwater Horizon Oil End Up?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-will-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-end-up/) The short answer is everywhere--the sea surface, deep waters, the Gulf Coast, in deepwater corals and even as far as the Arctic David Biello [EnvironmentMay 18, 2010Oil in Gulf of Mexico Spells Disaster for Young Birds as Breeding Season Unfolds \[Slide Show\]](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-spill-impact-on-birds/) How will the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf impact the bird populations of the South Coast? Anne Minard [EnvironmentMay 14, 2010How Long Will the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Last?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-will-oil-spill-last/) It's not just a matter of stopping the spill, it's also a matter of where the oil ends up David Biello [EnvironmentMay 12, 2010How Bad Is the Oil Spill?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/how-bad-is-the-oil-spill-10-05-12/) As bad as it is, BP's Gulf oil spill dwindles compared with gushers of the past. David Biello reports [TechnologyMay 7, 2010Coast Guard Captures Deepwater Response to Oil Spill Disaster in Pictures \[Slide Show\]](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deepwater-coast-guard-images/) Crews from the Guard, BP and local fishermen have been hard at work in the Gulf of Mexico since the oil rig exploded and sank in April Larry Greenemeier [TechnologyMay 7, 2010Gulf Oil Spill Highlights the Increasing Dependence on Deep-Sea Robots](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deepwater-robot-sub/) Remotely operated subs have met with both success and failure in stanching the flow of crude, and the oil industry may need to rely on completely autonomous vehicles Larry Greenemeier [EnvironmentMay 4, 2010Gulf Spill Cleanup Chemicals May Cause New Environmental Concerns](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spill-clean-up-chemicals/) On Thursday BP began using the chemical compounds to dissolve the crude oil, both on the surface and deep below, deploying an estimated 100,000 gallons Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica [May 4, 2010BP Suffers Multiple Lapses in Years Leading to Oil Spills](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bp-suffers-multiple-lapses/) The global oil giant responsible for the fast-spreading spill in the Gulf of Mexico is no stranger to major accidents Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica [EnvironmentMay 3, 2010Oil spill threatens endangered species at a critical time](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/extinction-countdown/oil-spill-threatens-endangered-species-at-a-critical-time/) John Platt [EnvironmentApril 29, 2010Oil spill worsens, offshore drilling plans in dire straits?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/oil-spill-worsens-offshore-drilling-plans-in-dire-straits/) David Biello [The SciencesApril 27, 2010Oil spill endangers fragile marshland](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-spill-endangers-fragile-ma/) Clean-up efforts begin after oil explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. [August 18, 2009Oil Spills, the Media and the Oil Industry](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-spills-the-media-and-industry/) Do oil disasters happen less or does the media not prioritize them? [June 17, 2009Senate Advances Comprehensive Energy Bill](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/senate-energy-bill-renewable-offshore-drilling/) National renewable standards and offshore drilling still in question, however Ben Geman [EnvironmentMarch 24, 2009The Future of Oil Is in Deep Water](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/future-oil-deep-water/) That's not just because of the economic crisis slowing demand, remaining unexplored oil reservoirs are in deep waters offshore Katie Howell [Next](https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/deepwater-oil-idr/?page=2) Subscribe to *Scientific American* to learn and share the most exciting discoveries, innovations and ideas shaping our world today. 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[TechnologyJune 9, 2010Drill BP, Drill: By Boring Relief Wells Closer to the Oil Reservoir BP Hopes to Up Odds of Success](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bp-relief-well-drilling/) The downside: by going deeper it will take another two months. In the meantime the oil company scrambles for temporary fixes [June 8, 2010Delisted and in danger: Gulf oil spill threatens brown pelicans months after they are dropped from endangered species list](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/extinction-countdown/delisted-and-in-danger-gulf-oil-spill-threatens-brown-pelicans-months-after-they-are-dropped-from-endangered-species-list/) John Platt [EnvironmentJune 8, 2010Slosh and Berm: Building Sand Barriers off Louisiana's Coast to Hold Back Oil Spill Has Low Probability of Success](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-spill-may-change-shape-of-gulf-coast-louisiana/) The oil spill will not just have an environmental impact--the catastrophe, along with efforts to stop it, may reshape the geography of Louisiana's Gulf coast David Biello [EnvironmentJune 8, 2010Gulf Spillover: Will BP's Deepwater Disaster Change the Oil Industry?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/molotch-deepwater-environmental-sociology/) New York University sociologist Harvey Molotch compares the devastating 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill with Deepwater to see how far the U.S. government and the oil industry have--and have not--come Larry Greenemeier [TechnologyJune 4, 2010Scientists Will Monitor Deepwater Horizon Methane Plumes for Gulf Oil Spill Answers](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deepwater-methane-study/) A team of researchers is hoping that the study of methane will help more accurately calculate the extent of the oil spill and the Gulf's ability to break down the slick Larry Greenemeier [The SciencesJune 3, 2010How Will the Oil Spill Impact the Gulf's Dead Zone?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-will-the-oil-spill-impact-dead-zone/) Microbial activity could end up exacerbating waters with little oxygen--as could the coating of oil David Biello [TechnologyJune 1, 2010No relief in sight for BP's Deepwater oil containment operations as hurricane season arrives](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/no-relief-in-sight-for-bps-deepwater-oil-containment-operations-as-hurricane-season-arrives/) Larry Greenemeier [EnvironmentMay 27, 2010"Top kill" goes on into the night \[update\]](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/top-kill-goes-on-into-the-night-update/) David Biello [The SciencesMay 25, 2010Flood of oil, drought of research](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flood-of-oil-drought-of-resea/) Scientists frustrated as questions about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill go unanswered. [The SciencesMay 25, 2010Slick Solution: How Microbes Will Clean Up the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-microbes-clean-up-oil-spills/) Bacteria and other microbes are the only thing that will ultimately clean up the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico David Biello [EnvironmentMay 19, 2010Where Will the Deepwater Horizon Oil End Up?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-will-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-end-up/) The short answer is everywhere--the sea surface, deep waters, the Gulf Coast, in deepwater corals and even as far as the Arctic David Biello [EnvironmentMay 18, 2010Oil in Gulf of Mexico Spells Disaster for Young Birds as Breeding Season Unfolds \[Slide Show\]](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-spill-impact-on-birds/) How will the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf impact the bird populations of the South Coast? Anne Minard [EnvironmentMay 14, 2010How Long Will the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Last?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-long-will-oil-spill-last/) It's not just a matter of stopping the spill, it's also a matter of where the oil ends up David Biello [EnvironmentMay 12, 2010How Bad Is the Oil Spill?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/how-bad-is-the-oil-spill-10-05-12/) As bad as it is, BP's Gulf oil spill dwindles compared with gushers of the past. David Biello reports [TechnologyMay 7, 2010Coast Guard Captures Deepwater Response to Oil Spill Disaster in Pictures \[Slide Show\]](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deepwater-coast-guard-images/) Crews from the Guard, BP and local fishermen have been hard at work in the Gulf of Mexico since the oil rig exploded and sank in April Larry Greenemeier [TechnologyMay 7, 2010Gulf Oil Spill Highlights the Increasing Dependence on Deep-Sea Robots](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deepwater-robot-sub/) Remotely operated subs have met with both success and failure in stanching the flow of crude, and the oil industry may need to rely on completely autonomous vehicles Larry Greenemeier [EnvironmentMay 4, 2010Gulf Spill Cleanup Chemicals May Cause New Environmental Concerns](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spill-clean-up-chemicals/) On Thursday BP began using the chemical compounds to dissolve the crude oil, both on the surface and deep below, deploying an estimated 100,000 gallons Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica [May 4, 2010BP Suffers Multiple Lapses in Years Leading to Oil Spills](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bp-suffers-multiple-lapses/) The global oil giant responsible for the fast-spreading spill in the Gulf of Mexico is no stranger to major accidents Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica [EnvironmentMay 3, 2010Oil spill threatens endangered species at a critical time](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/extinction-countdown/oil-spill-threatens-endangered-species-at-a-critical-time/) John Platt [EnvironmentApril 29, 2010Oil spill worsens, offshore drilling plans in dire straits?](https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/oil-spill-worsens-offshore-drilling-plans-in-dire-straits/) David Biello [The SciencesApril 27, 2010Oil spill endangers fragile marshland](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-spill-endangers-fragile-ma/) Clean-up efforts begin after oil explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. [August 18, 2009Oil Spills, the Media and the Oil Industry](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-spills-the-media-and-industry/) Do oil disasters happen less or does the media not prioritize them? [June 17, 2009Senate Advances Comprehensive Energy Bill](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/senate-energy-bill-renewable-offshore-drilling/) National renewable standards and offshore drilling still in question, however Ben Geman [EnvironmentMarch 24, 2009The Future of Oil Is in Deep Water](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/future-oil-deep-water/) That's not just because of the economic crisis slowing demand, remaining unexplored oil reservoirs are in deep waters offshore Katie Howell