BP oil leak 'larger than original estimates'

The mechanical malfunction that took place last week (March 24th) at a BP oil refinery could have resulted in more oil than previously thought leaking into Lake Michigan. BP confirmed that around 500 gallons of crude oil was released into the lake shortly after the incident, however, it is now being suggested that the actual amount is higher.

The earlier estimation suggested that between ten and 12 barrels of oil leaked from the refinery when a mechanical issue caused oil to enter the cooling water system, which discharges into the lake. However, it is now thought that between 15 and 39 barrels - between 630 and 1,638 gallons - were released through the system into the lake.

Unfortunately, plans to assess the situation at Lake Michigan have been interrupted by waves and high wind at the site. Workers were aiming to evaluate whether there was any crude oil that could have submerged offshore. Although the impact of the spill is thought to be relatively low, until a thorough assessment of the lake and surrounding area has been carried out, this cannot be confirmed. 

Despite both BP and the US Coast Guard stating that the spill has been contained and is still reasonably small, many residents are concerned about the impact on the lake, which is a source of drinking water for millions of homes.

Even though the assessment has yet to take place, crews have been working to clean up the spill. Pebbles along the shore of the lake that have been coated in the spilled oil have been removed and a boom was set up to stop the oil spreading into the larger lake area.

Although this leak is relatively small, especially when taking into account the BP oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 when around 4.9 million barrels of oil spilled from the Macondo Well, it is a blow to people's confidence in the company. The oil firm has only just been allowed to start bidding on federal oil drilling licences after a two-year ban was put in place following the Macondo incident.