New Oil Flow Estimate Makes Gulf Spill Nation's Worst

At 3.5 times earlier estimates, exceeds Exxon Valdez
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 27, 2010 10:10 AM CDT
New Oil Flow Estimate Makes Gulf Spill Nation's Worst
Douglas Inkley, left, from the National Wildlife Federation, stands near oil-soaked vegetation on an island impacted by oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in Barataria Bay just inside the coast of Louisiana, Tuesday, May 25, 2010.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

New oil flow estimates by scientists studying the blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico are more than three times earlier estimates, making the leak the worst in the nation's history. The US Geological Survey director says the results are preliminary, but two teams using different methods determined that the well has spilled between 17 million and 39 million gallons, far more than 11 million gallons that spilled in the Exxon Valdez disaster (More Gulf oil spill stories.)

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