At that time, no other oil drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico matched the size and depth of the Deepwater Horizon. However, BP's project faced numerous technical issues that raised alarms for the operational supervisor, Jimmy Harrell, and Chief Electrical Engineer, Mike Williams. They were genuinely worried about potential dangers. Frustrated by delays, visiting BP executives ordered reduced site inspections and manipulated system tests to save time, ignoring the safety concerns raised by Harrell, Williams, and their team.
On April 20, their worst fears came true. Structural and system failures led to a catastrophic blowout and explosion, endangering the workers and marking the beginning of the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. The Deepwater Horizon is a semi-submersible oil drilling rig located in the Gulf of Mexico, 41 miles southeast of Louisiana. It is operated by a crew of 126 members. However, Chief Electronics Technician Mike Williams and Rig Supervisor Jimmy Harrell are alarmed to find that BP executives Donald Vidrine and Robert Kaluza have ignored standard procedures regarding the cement foundation that prevents blowouts.
Uncertain about the well's stability and the integrity of the cement, the executives prioritize cost-cutting measures and decide to begin pumping. This decision leads to a series of malfunctions that turn the Deepwater Horizon into a raging fire. Amid the chaos, Williams and Harrell bravely attempt to save their colleagues during what becomes the worst oil disaster in U.S. history, lasting for 87 days.
Deepwater Horizon, operated by Transocean on behalf of BP, is ready to start drilling off Louisiana’s southern coast. Mike Williams, the Chief Electronics Technician, and James Harrell, the Offshore Installation Manager, are taken aback when they learn that workers responsible for testing the cement's integrity are being sent home early. This is done at the request of BP managers Vidrine and Kaluza, who do not want a cement bond log conducted. While Mike prepares the drilling team with Caleb Holloway, Harrell convinces Vidrine to carry out a test, which only further compromises the poorly placed cement. Frustrated and without waiting for confirmation from Harrell, Vidrine orders the well to be activated.