BP documents show estimated oil flow into the Gulf before capping

[babylonsister]

BP documents show estimated oil flow into the Gulf before capping
By Ed Payne, CNN
July 27, 2010 -- Updated 1100 GMT (1900 HKT)


(CNN) -- BP documents sent to the U.S. Coast Guard this month provide the "smoking gun" -- showing the extent of oil spewed from the oil giant's crippled well into the Gulf of Mexico, the head of the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee said Tuesday.

"This is the smoking gun we've been waiting for, where BP finally admits in writing the true magnitude of this spill could be at least 53,000 barrels a day," said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts.

The figure comes from documents Markey received during the committee's investigation into the Gulf oil disaster.

Although a statement from Markey touted the figure as "BP's first admission ... that the spill could be so large," BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles estimated the flow from the well at 53,000 barrels per day during a June 6 interview with CNN.

Markey cites letters Suttles sent to the Coast Guard on July 6 and July 11, saying that they should "assume flow rate of 53,000" barrels of oil spilled per day when determining the amount of dispersant to be used for cleanup.

BP and the Coast Guard initially estimated 1,000 barrels of oil a day were leaking from the well, but that estimate proved wildly inaccurate. Scientists later bumped that estimate to between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels.

Under current law, BP would have to pay up to $4,300 per barrel of oil spilled, if gross negligence is found against the company, according to Markey's committee. BP ultimately could pay billions of dollars in fines in addition to the billions already spent on cleanup.

more...

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/07/27/gulf.oil.disaster/#fbid=Pv-LrkaERcQ

[Scurrilous]

1. Thanks.

K & R :thumbsup: