New estimates from federal scientists are putting the oil spill total at nearly five million barrels, a sizable increase over the most recent estimated figures and enough to officially make it the worst accidental oil spill in history. Federal science and engineering teams were allowed access to the wellhead just prior to the July 15 capping and took “elaborate pressure readings and other measurements” to make this determination. Also updated was the daily flow rate: initially, the administration had said 12,000 to 19,000 barrels of oil were leaking each day - it turns out that figure was closer to 53,000 barrels per day. In other discouraging spill-related news, officials postponed the “static kill” plan to cap the well indefinitely until Tuesday.
Feds Dramatically Increase Oil Spill Estimate, Making BP’s The Worst Oil Accident In History [HuffPo]
U.S. Puts Oil Spill Total at Nearly 5 Million Barrels [NYT]
