Expert: Surface area of gulf oil spill has tripled

Source: AP

By CAIN BURDEAU and HOLBROOK MOHR

VENICE, La. (AP) -- The surface area of a catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill quickly tripled in size amid growing fears among experts that the slick could become vastly more devastating than it seemed just two days ago.

The newly named federal point man for the oil spill said it was impossible to pinpoint how much oil is leaking from a ruptured underwater well. Commandant Adm. Thad Allen, head of the U.S. Coast Guard, told a conference call Saturday that "any exact estimation of what's flowing out of those pipes down there is impossible" because the site is about a mile underwater.

Frustrated fishermen eager to help contain the spill had to keep their boats idle as another day of rough seas kept crews away from the slick, and President Barack Obama planned a Sunday trip to the Gulf Coast.

Documents also emerged showing BP PLC downplayed the possibility of a catastrophic accident at the offshore rig that exploded. BP operated the rig, which was owned by Transocean Ltd.


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Could be dispersing the slick and that would make it impossible to burn off the way they were planning. I heard there were sustained winds of 20+ mph and gusts over 20 mph. Rough conditions for doing the work out there.