<P> In July 2015 BP reached an $18.7 bn settlement with the US government, the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, as well as 400 local authorities . To date BP's cost for the clean - up, environmental and economic damages and penalties has reached $54 bn . </P> <P> According to the National Response Center, the oil industry has thousands of minor accidents in the Gulf of Mexico every year . </P> <P> On May 12, 2016, a release of oil from subsea infrastructure on Shell's Brutus oil rig released 2,100 barrels of oil . This leak created a visible 2 mile by 13 mile oil slick in the sea about 97 miles south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana, according to the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement . </P>

Who created the first map of the gulf of mexico