Here is a good discussion from “The Oil Drum” as to how and why the flow rate from the BP spill could have increased over time:
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6609#more
It also has some interesting tidbits about the reasons that the early flow data was low, and what that data was derived from.
Thanks for sharing that-it does confirm some issues I had suspected on how system erosion would have increased the flow rate. Some will now insist that something like 40-50,000 bpd was flowing from the start, hence how they get their max estimates that over 100 million gallons have already leaked. And of course, like many things said this whole ordeal, it seems rather absurd.
Now they estimate is increasing once again, though granted this is the estimate after the riser cut was removed, and the top estimate is given as uncertain-i.e. unlikely.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/15/oil.spill.disaster/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1
At this point I don’t even thing offical estimates like these are credible. The timing is very suspect here-a jump in the estimate at the exact same time Obama comes on the TV to explain how he is kicking ass and likely saying we need to socialize oil ? Strange coincidence indeed.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2534648/posts
The above is a thread showing that the feds knew immediately that the flow was much higher initially (and the public numbers were bs) and could be as high s 4.2 mil. gallons per day. Unauthorized video tape evidence is the source. If the feds knew, BP knew.
I’ll go check out the Oil Drum link now. Thanks.