Timeline: Gulf of Mexico oil spill

BP faces multi-billion dollar fine over Gulf of Mexico oil spill

BP is facing a multi-billion dollar fine after it was found to be "grossly negligent" over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

A US judge is yet to rule on how much the company will have to pay out. However, BP has said it would appeal the ruling.

A Terra satellite captured a wide-view natural-color image of an oil slick off the Louisiana coast, taken on 29 April, 2010. Credit: Reuters

A reminder of the timeline of events in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill:

20 April 2010: Explosion and fire on Deepwater Horizon rig kills 11 workers and injures 17. The rig is owned by Transocean Ltd and licensed to BP.
22 April: Rig capsizes and sinks, leading oil to discharge through the gulf.
30 April: Then BP boss Tony Hayward says company accepts responsibility for the spill and promises to compensate all those affected.
22 June: After receiving criticism for his handling of the crisis - including comment he would like his life back - Hayward hands day-to-day reponsibility for spill operations to Managing Director BOB Dudley - later named as next CEO.
29 September - BP permanently seals the leaking well.

BP claims 3.26 million barrels leaked from the well in total, while the US government puts the spillage at around 4.9 million barrels.

Last updated Fri 5 Sep 2014