Phoenix BP Oil Spill Attorney
Have you, someone you know or a business been affected by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? If so, you or those that have suffered damages may be eligible to file a compensation claim for those losses.
The law offices of the Arguello Law Firm have a team of attorneys that can help determine if you have grounds to file a lawsuit and if so, can guide you safely through the entire litigation process.
To learn more, contact us today at 888-CLAIM-68 (888-25246-68).
The Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Spill
With approximately 4.9 MILLION barrels of oil having leaked into the Gulf of Mexico, the BP oil spill in the “Macondo Prospect” region is now considered to be the largest marine-based oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry.
Covering more than 16,000 miles of shore and ocean, the damage estimates for this environmental and economic disaster were initially considered to be approximately $33 BILLION, but have since been increased to almost $40 BILLION.
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious personal injury or other damages as a result of this oil spill, that individual may be eligible to receive compensation – which can include provision for medical expenses, lost wages, property damages and other related costs.
To find out how we can help, simply fill out the “Free Case Evaluation” form located to the left.
What Caused The Leak?
Due to the extreme depths of the well location, it cause of the leak was initially unclear to investigators. However, as the leak has now been contained, it has been determined that there were a number of contributing factors to the cause of this catastrophe.
Some of these included:
Heavy Mud – this substance is generally used in the shaft of the drilling pipes to ensure that any gases that may be trapped in the well are contained within the piping system. However, it was decided by the operators to remove this heavy mud compound and replace it with sea water.
As a result, some of the gases were able to escape, which then quickly rose to the surface of the drilling platform (the Deepwater Horizon), which then ignited and caused an explosion that eventually sunk the platform.
Concrete – in most drilling environments, concrete is used to seal off a well to prevent any leakage from occurring once the drill has been removed. The mud mentioned above is used as a “placeholder” while the concrete cures. However, in this instance a new type of concrete mixture was used which was designed to cure faster than other mixtures in the hopes that the overall speed of the process could be increased (for greater efficiency of the drilling platform).
Unfortunately, it is believed that this new mixture created much more heat during it’s shortened drying time, which then caused the gases that were in the pipes to ingite.
Blowout Preventer – this device became well known as it was widely publicized on national television as the “fix” for the leak. However, a blowout preventer was already in place when the explosion occurred.
Due to the failure of the initial device in place, the drilling pipes were unable to be cut before gas from the well escaped up the drilling pipes, which then exited and exploded at the surface.
The resulting explosion injured 17 crew members with another 11 being unaccounted for and believed to have been killed by the blast.
What Companies Were Responsible?
While British Petroleum (BP) is the most publicly known company that was associated with this oil spill crisis, there were a number of other companies that were involved in the leasing of the drilling rig and the operation of the well.
These companies included:
Transocean – this company is based in Switzerland and owned the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling platform. Originally purchased from Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Deepwater Horizon was a semi-submersible, floating drilling rig that was designed to operate in waters that were up to 10,000 ft deep that was leased by Transocean to British Petroleum.
British Petroleum – based in the UK and also known simply as “BP”, this oil and petrochemical company is one of the worlds largest in the world. BP was the company that leased the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform from Transocean.
Haliburton – contracted by BP to handle some of the operations on the drilling rig, it is believed that this company was given the responsibility to close the location of the well that had been drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig.
Cameron International – the manufacturer of the blowout preventer that failed at the oil well location.
It’s important to note that in the aftermath of the accident, many of these companies have denied liability of fault in this disaster.
Who Can Claim For Damages?
As the effects of this spill were wide ranging – from Texas to the Florida Panhandle region and beyond – many companies and individuals may be eligible to file a compensation claim lawsuit.
If you or someone you love has:
- Suffered a serious personal injury
- Lost wages
- Lost profits
- Had property damaged
- Had real estate devalued
…. Due to the this oil spill, they may be able to obtain compensation for any injuries or damages that they may have incurred.
Need Help? Contact Our Phoenix BP Oil Spill Attorney Today
The lawyers of the Arguello Law Firm are genuinely compassionate to those that have suffered as a result of this tragic oil spill and are ready to help fight for the MAXIMUM compensation amounts for those eligible to file a claim.
Our office in Arizona is located in Phoenix and we proudly provide legal guidance and counsel to BP oil spill victims throughout the region, including (but not limited to):
- Phoenix
- Paradise Valley
- Scottsdale
- Mesa
- Sun City
- Goodyear
- Chandler
- Gilbert
- Fountain Hills
… and most of the towns and suburbs that surround these areas.
To learn more about your legal options or to speak with one of our attorneys, contact us today at 888-CLAIM-68 (888-25246-68) and after some initial questions about your inquiry, one of our intake staff will quickly connect you to our lawyers – it’s that easy.
If you would prefer to start immediately, simply fill out the “Free Case Evaluation” form located at the top of this page – it’s strictly confidential and 100% free to submit.