The bp deepwater horizon spill was distinct from most other major oil spills in that the well was far offshore allowing a long period of time for the oil to weather before it reached the . On may 22 2010 president barack obama announced the creation of the national commission on the bp deepwater horizon oil spill and offshore drilling an independentnonpartisan entity directed to provide a thorough analysis and impartial judgment the president charged the commission to determine the causes of the disaster and to improve the countrys ability to respond to spills and to . Deep water the gulf oil disaster and the future of offshore drilling report to the president bp oil spill commission report on april 20 2010 the macondo well blew out costing the lives of 11 men and beginning a catastrophe that sank the deepwater horizon drilling rig and spilled nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil into the gulf of mexico. Title deep water the gulf oil disaster and the future of offshore drilling report to the president january 2011 the gulf oil disaster and the future of offshore drilling editor national commission on the bp deepwater horizon oil spill and offshore dril edition. This report by the presidentially appointed oil spill commission released in january 2011 provides authoritative official findings on the causes and consequences of the bp deepwater horizon disaster with proposals for comprehensive reforms of both government and industry practices to overhaul the us approach to drilling safety and greatly reduce the chances of a similar disaster