HOUSTON (AP) - Researchers studying the flow of oil from the
blown-out well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico say as much as
twice the amount of oil than previously thought may have been
spewing into the sea.
The head of the group analyzing data and images said Thursday
that as many as 50,000 barrels - or 2.1 million gallons - of oil
may have been flowing daily from the well before the riser was cut
on June 3 as part of BP's latest containment effort.
The government has previously estimated that 12,000 to 25,000
barrels of oil - or 504,000 to 1.05 million gallons a day - had
been leaking from the well before the riser cut.
Thursday's new figures were announced by U.S. Geological Survey
Director Marcia McNutt. No estimates were given for the amount of
oil gushing from the well after the June 3 riser cut.

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