BP Admits Oil Spill Could Reach 60,000 Barrels a Day

One of three leaks spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon rig has been stopped, but the flow is still just as strong.

NASA Image - May 3rd, 2010

According to a BP executive in a private briefing with the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, the leaks could potentially release 60,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico each day if they do not improve. That is up from the last estimate of around 5,000 barrels each day.

Federal officials, according to a New York Times article, increased the potential release of oil to 100,000 barrels per day, if the problem gets worse.

As days pass and the uncertainty of the problem persists, BP is facing increased pressure regarding their approach to the clean up and their responsibility for the spill.

Executives from BP have traveled to states in harm’s way and are holding meetings with local residents. They are also creating ad campaigns for those states with instructions on how to file for claims and how to volunteer for clean up efforts.

Officials hope that by early next week, structures will be placed over the leaks to catch the oil and pump it into surface containers, according to a BBC News article. Even with these dome-like devices in place, a massive amount of oil will remain in the Gulf and beyond.

BP executives have acknowledged that the damage done by this oil spill will easily surpass the $75 million liability cap for drilling accidents.

In one sign of good luck, the weather seems to be holding off the oil from reaching the U.S. coast in major amounts and will likely continue to do so over the weekend. Residents are preparing for the oil to touch down on the coast, an event that will take years to clean up.

Wildlife in danger of oil spill

Many of the local residents are already comparing the upcoming disasters on the coast to the damage caused by hurricane Katrina.

This will likely become the most disastrous and costly oil spill in history, but only if our efforts to contain it continue to fail.

In the upcoming months, a major blame game will be taking place. Because multiple companies were involved with the Deepwater Horizon rig, it will be necessary to narrow down the cause of this disaster to know exactly who to blame for it.

BP denies any claim that they are the cause of the oil spill, but also stands behind their responsibility to fund the clean up efforts. Transocean LTD, the rig owner and operator, is also under pressure for an explanation. Even the manufacturer Cameron International, who constructed the failed blow-out preventer in 2001, will face responsibility.

No matter where blame lands in the end, it’s important that we do not become obsessed with it now. For the time being, we must focus all of our efforts at stopping the oil leaks that are spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Tossing around blame will only cause rifts between organizations that should be working together to stop this epic mistake.