BP exec says Gulf oil leak may be as much as government’s higher estimate of 5,000 barrels/day

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BP exec: Gulf oil leak may be larger than thought

NEW ORLEANS — BP’s Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles says more oil may be leaking from a Gulf of Mexico drilling site than first estimated.

Speaking Thursday on NBC’s “Today,” Suttles said the leak is more than the 1,000 barrels of day that was originally estimated last week after a deepwater rig exploded and burned off the coast of Louisiana.

He said it may be as much as a new estimate of 5,000 barrels a day that the government first provided late Wednesday.

Suttles said BP Plc and government scientists have to estimate the flow based on what reaches the surface because there is no way to measure the oil pouring out on the seabed.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — BP’s Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles says the company welcomes an offer of U.S. military help to end a large oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Speaking Thursday on NBC’s “Today,” Suttles said BP Plc will take help from anyone to combat a spill that began when an oil rig exploded and sank last week off the coast of Louisiana. He gave no specifics of what help might be coming.

Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry says the Secretary of Homeland Security has briefed President Barack Obama and the government has offered to have the Department of Defense use its equipment and expertise to help contain the spill and protect the U.S. coastline and wildlife.