BP Admits Underestimating Oil Leaking from Gulf of Mexico Well
May 21st, 2010Imagine our shock.
Via: Telegraph:
BP was on Thursday accused of seriously underestimating the flow of oil from its Gulf of Mexico well.
In a further blow the beleaguered oil giant was also ordered to use less toxic chemicals to disperse its growing slick.
It came as more damaging, heavy crude hit Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and experts warned that the Gulfstream current could carry the slick round Cuba and into the Florida Keys.
The British energy major – already under pressure from the US government – admitted the well was gushing out more than the 5,000 barrels a day it had previously estimated. It could not give a new figure for the flow, three weeks after the Deepwater Horizon rig owned and operated by its contractor Transocean exploded and sank, killing 11 men.
It is now siphoning 5,000 barrels a day up to a boat, but said although the flow had “noticeably reduced” there was still a plume of oil leaking into the ocean.
One scientist, Steve Wereley, associate mechanical engineering professor at Purdue University, believes as much as 70,000 barrels could be emerging per day, based on a video released by BP.
“This is not rocket science,” Mr Wereley told a US congressional panel. “All outside estimates are considerably higher than BP’s.”
