Date of Award

5-2014

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Business

Advisor/Committee Chair

Raymond K. Van Ness

Abstract

In this thesis, I will be discussing the financial ramifications of the parties affected by BP’s carelessness in the days preceding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. Before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred, there were a series of strategic decisions that BP and its executives made that caused the Macondo well to explode approximately 48 miles off the coast of Louisiana at 9:56 pm on April 20, 2010. After the explosion of the well and the subsequent 5 million gallons of oil that spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, there were a number of parties that were forced to bear the brunt of the damage, both physical and financial. In addition to the wildlife of the Gulf that witnessed the destruction of their habitat by the oil, BP’s shareholders, the performance of the company and the community were also forced to pay for BP’s carelessness. Focusing on these three main parties, we will be able to put a number on the financial impact of the oil spill and attempt to put a price tag on the ever-growing cost of BP’s carelessness.

Included in

Business Commons

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