BP Complaints

The Deepwater Horizon spill has surpassed in volume the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill as the largest ever to originate in US-controlled waters; it is comparable to the 1979 Ixtoc I oil spill in total volume released (Ixtoc discharged 140 to 148 million gallons; as of June 16, Deepwater Horizon has discharged 73 to 126 million gallons). In their permit to drill the well, BP estimated the worst case flow at 162000barrels (6800000 US gallons; 25800 cubic metres) per day. BP initially estimated that the wellhead was leaking only 1000 barrels (42000 US gallons; 160 cubic metres) a day. On April 28, 2010, based on satellite pictures, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that the leak was likely 5000 barrels (210000 US gallons; 790 cubic metres) a day. Geologist and oil industry consultant Simon James Hesketh said a more realistic figure was 20000 barrels (840000 US gallons; 3200 cubic metres) a day and oceanographer Ian MacDonald and other sources using satellite imagery put the number as high as 25000 barrels (1100000 US gallons; 4000 cubic metres) a day. According to BP, estimating the flow is very difficult as there is no metering of the flow underwater and because of the presence of natural gas in the outflow. The company initially refused to allow scientists to perform more accurate, independent measurements of the flow, claiming that it is not relevant to the response and that such efforts might distract from efforts to stem the flow. Former …