An oil spill which was kept secret for a month while it spread over an area half the size of London may have been larger than anticipated, according to rig operators. From the AFP:
“During our cleanup operations in Bohai Bay, ConocoPhillips discovered additional oil-based drilling mud on the sea floor,” the company said in a statement published on its website Wednesday.
“Although the amount of the discovery is unknown, we anticipate that it will push the total amount of oil and oil-based drilling mud released past the previous estimate of 1,500 barrels ….”
“It’s hard to determine the fingerprint of the oil because this information is only accessible by the government,” said Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.
“The overall damage is still being assessed, but ConocoPhillips has done little to inspire trust.”
