The spill is believed to be America's worst environmental disaster
The spill is believed to be America's worst environmental disaster
As many as 40,000 barrels (1.7 million gallons) of oil a day may have been gushing out from a blown-out Gulf of Mexico well, doubling many estimates.
As many as 40,000 barrels (1.7 million gallons) of oil a day may have been gushing out from a blown-out Gulf of Mexico well, doubling many estimates.
The US Geological Survey says that flow rate could have been reached before a cap was put on the well on 3 June.
The US Geological Survey says that flow rate could have been reached before a cap was put on the well on 3 June.
BP's chairman has been asked to meet Barack Obama next week, amid assurances from the UK and US that bilateral ties will not be affected by the crisis.
BP's chairman has been asked to meet Barack Obama next week, amid assurances from the UK and US that bilateral ties will not be affected by the crisis.
UK PM David Cameron and President Obama will discuss the spill at the weekend.
UK PM David Cameron and President Obama will discuss the spill at the weekend.
Oil has been leaking into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on 20 April and sank off the coast of the US state of Louisiana, killing 11 workers.
Oil has been leaking into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on 20 April and sank off the coast of the US state of Louisiana, killing 11 workers.
BP said the device placed on the well collected 15,800 barrels of oil on Wednesday - slightly up on the 15,010 barrels collected in the previous 24-hour period.
BP said the device placed on the well collected 15,800 barrels of oil on Wednesday - slightly up on the 15,010 barrels collected in the previous 24-hour period.
New estimates for the oil spill prior to 3 June follow an assessment by a team of scientists put together by the US government and coordinated by the US Geological Survey.
"The lowest estimate that we're seeing that the scientists think is credible is probably about 20,000 barrels, and the highest that we're seeing is probably a little over 40,000," said Marcia McNutt, director of the US Geological Survey.
The new estimates are staggering and only add to BP's woes, the BBC's Andy Gallagher in Florida says.
The British oil giant had estimated that up to 19,000 barrels a day was leaking from the ruptured well before they managed to partially contain the spill.
"This is a nightmare that keeps getting worse every week," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, America's oldest environmental organisation.
"We're finding out more and more information about the extent of the damage... Clearly we can't trust BP's estimates of how much oil is coming out."
'Lack of integrity'
'Lack of integrity'
Late on Thursday, the Obama administration announced that the chairman of BP, Carl-Henric Svanberg, had been asked to meet Mr Obama and the officer in charge of the relief effort, Adm Thad Allen, at the White House.
Relations between BP and the White House are now more strained than every, our correspondent reports.
The meeting will be held amid growing worry about whether BP would have enough cash to pay for the clean-up operation and compensation for those affected.
BP chairman, Carl-Henric Svanberg, has been invited - some would say summoned - to the White House next week, he adds.
US Attorney General Eric Holder has warned that Washington would "not pay a dime" for cleaning up and that BP would be held responsible for all damages.
And the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, accused BP of a "lack of integrity" over its approach to the spill.
Ms Pelosi is among a number of US politicians who have suggested that BP should be forced to suspend dividend payments until it is clear the company has enough cash
That has raised concerns in the UK, where BP's dividends form a crucial part of pension funds for millions of Britons. The sharp criticism from the US has been described by some UK politicians as growing anti-British rhetoric.
On the markets BP's shares closed down 6% in London on Thursday, having earlier fallen as much as 12%.
'Mitigating effects'
Speaking on Thursday during a visit to Afghanistan, British Prime Minister David Cameron described the spill as "an environmental catastrophe".
The fact that Mr Hayward is not American has probably made him all the more irritating to his US audience
The fact that Mr Hayward is not American has probably made him all the more irritating to his US audience
"BP needs to do everything it can to deal with the situation, and the UK government stands ready to help," he said.
The meeting will be held amid concerns that BP may not have enough cash to pay for the clean-up operation and compensation for those affected.
"I completely understand the US government's frustration. The most important thing is to try to mitigate the effects and get to grips with the problem. It's something I will discuss with the American president when we next talk"
US Attorney General Eric Holder has warned that Washington will "not pay a dime" for cleaning up and that BP will be held responsible for all damages.
In Washington, US state department spokesman PJ Crowley said the spill was a matter between the US and BP, not the UK.
And the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has accused BP of a "lack of integrity" over its approach to the spill.
"BP is a private company and this is about the impact of a tragedy in terms of the explosion of the oil platform and the resulting oil spill," he told reporters.
Ms Pelosi is among a number of US politicians who have suggested that BP should be forced to suspend dividend payments until it is clear the company has enough cash.
"This is not about relations between the United States and its closest ally."
That has raised concerns in the UK, where BP's dividends form a crucial part of pension funds for millions of Britons.
The comments come after Mr Obama's increasingly outspoken criticism of BP.
The sharp criticism from the US has been described by some UK politicians as growing anti-British rhetoric.
His administration has been steadily applying more pressure on the oil giant, with reports that the US justice department is considering legal action to ensure BP pays damages and compensation to those affected.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday his government was ready to help BP do all it can to deal with the situation, and understood the US government's frustration.
Testy though relations between the US government and BP have become, the oil spill has yet to mar the so-called "special relationship" between America and Britain, says the BBC's David Willis in Washington
"The most important thing is to try to mitigate the effects and get to grips with the problem. It's something I will discuss with the American president when we next talk," he said.
'Pressing concern'
On the markets BP's shares closed down 6% in London on Thursday, having earlier fallen as much as 12%.
Also on Thursday, Mr Obama met relatives of the 11 workers killed in the explosion that sank the BP oil platform in April.
Mr Obama, who has himself come under mounting political pressure over his handling of the crisis, held the meeting at the White House.
One man whose son was among the dead said the president had told the families he would not forget about them. Keith Jones, a lawyer from Louisiana, described the meeting as a "very positive experience".
Mr Jones said Mr Obama had played with his four-week-old grandson, whose father Gordon was an engineer on the oil rig.
Amid growing public anger in the US, Mr Obama is keen to show he is on top of the situation and will make a fourth visit to the region on Monday.
At relief headquarters, officials said an understanding on speeding up the payment of compensation claims had been reached at a meeting with senior BP executives.
Administration officials had raised a "pressing concern" about the time BP was taking to provide relief payments, particularly to businesses in the stricken area, one official said.
Attempt to cap oil leak
The latest stage in BP's efforts to contain leaking oil has involved lowering a cap onto the failed blowout preventer (BOP) valve system on the seabed. The cap sits on the BOP's lower marine riser package (LMRP) section.
First, the damaged riser - the pipe which takes oil from the well - was cut where it nears the seabed using a remotely-operated shear. This was completed at 1930 CDT on 1 June (0030 GMT 2 June).
The next stage was for a diamond wire cutter to saw through the riser close to the LMRP. The blade got stuck and had to be removed but BP eventually cut through the pipe using giant shears manipulated by undersea robots (ROV).
After removing the pipe, the cap was lowered onto the LMRP enabling the leaking oil and gas to be funnelled to a drill ship on the surface. Latest estimates suggest more than half of the leaking oil is now being captured.
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Attempt to cap oil leak
The latest stage in BP's efforts to contain leaking oil has involved lowering a cap onto the failed blowout preventer (BOP) valve system on the seabed. The cap sits on the BOP's lower marine riser package (LMRP) section.
First, the damaged riser - the pipe which takes oil from the well - was cut where it nears the seabed using a remotely-operated shear. This was completed at 1930 CDT on 1 June (0030 GMT 2 June).
The next stage was for a diamond wire cutter to saw through the riser close to the LMRP. The blade got stuck and had to be removed but BP eventually cut through the pipe using giant shears manipulated by undersea robots (ROV).
After removing the pipe, the cap was lowered onto the LMRP enabling the leaking oil and gas to be funnelled to a drill ship on the surface. Latest estimates suggest more than half of the leaking oil is now being captured.
