U.S. NAVY SALVAGE REPORT DEEPWATER HORIZON ... - ESSM

Final Report, SONS Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico, 27 April — 24 September 2010
SECTION A – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On 20 April 2010, a catastrophic explosion caused an oil spill from a British Petroleum (BP)
offshore oil-drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico spewing millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf
of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon was a 9-year-old semi-submersible mobile offshore oil-drilling
rig located about 41 miles off the Louisiana coast. The consequential oil flow continued from the
wellhead until 15 July 2010. To date this was the largest offshore oil spill in the history of the
United States. The federal officials and BP pronounced the well dead nearly 3 months to the day
after the 20 April 2010 explosion. An estimated 53,000 barrels per day escaped from the well before
the leak was stopped.
Late on 26 April 2010, the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) was requested by the U.S.
Coast Guard (USCG) to provide Oil Spill Response (OSR) equipment in support of the cleanup in
the Gulf of Mexico and began mobilization.
On 27 April 2010, GPC, a Joint Venture, SUPSALV’s Emergency Ship Salvage Material (ESSM)
contractor received official verbal authorization to prepare and ship OSR equipment from Cheatham
Annex, Williamsburg, VA and Port Hueneme, CA as well as provide operating personnel from all
ESSM bases to Gulfport, Mississippi.
SUPSALV eventually deployed 36′ Class V Skimmers (qty 18), Vessel of Opportunity Skimmer
Systems (VOSS) (qty 5), High Speed Current Buster Skimmer Systems (qty 1), VOSS Class XI
Skimmer System (qty 2), Command Trailers (VA0719) (qty 3), Workshop Vans (VA0508) (qty 3),
Rigging Vans (VA0010A) (qty 3), 98,000 feet of USS-42″ Oil Containment Boom, and Boom
Handling Boats (qty 9). Additional support equipment listed in Section E was also deployed.
At the height of the oil spill cleanup effort, 140 personnel were deployed.
Total SUPSALV oil volume recovered: 984,610 gallons (offshore 899,392 gallons) and (near-shore
85,218 gallons).
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