BP emails reveal oil spill concerns

An internal BP email conversation revealed today that officials were warning that if the Deepwater Horizon well was not protected by the blow-out preventer at the drill site, crude oil could burst into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of 3.4 million gallons a day.

The conversation happened just after the well sank in the Gulf of Mexico.

The memo suggests BP managers recognised the potential of the disaster in its early hours, and the company officials sought to make sure that the model-developed information should not be shared with those outside the company.

The emails also suggest BP was having heated discussions with Coast Guard officials over the potential of the oil spill.

It was released in federal court litigation. BP agreed to release it as part of court proceedings.