BP (NYSE:BP) Pollution Cleanup Continues, Cover up Denied

BP (NYSE:BP) had estimated that the fuel oil spill from the oil pipeline was around 5,000 barrels a day. The U.S. government and some scientist have doubted and questioned this figure as the pollution cleanup continues.

BP oil has said that some of the third party estimates on the daily loss from the oil spill are inaccurate and are adamantly denying a cover up. A spokesman from the BP oil company said Friday, "it was only ever meant to be a rough estimate." This statement was prompted by the accusations by U.S. lawmakers accused them of hiding the true and full estimate of the spill.

BP has also stated that there are several ways to measure the oil that is leaking. The damage to the pipe has distorted the diameter by 30 percent, although this flow has been reduced by an additional 10 percent due to the pipe trapped inside the riser.

"Thus, some third party estimates of flow, which assume a 19.5 inch diameter, are inaccurate," BP said. Plus, there is data showing that 50 percent of the plume formed by the oil leak is natural gas not oil.