I have no particular knowledge of the damage down there, but I know that 'experts' are ALWAYS wrong when estimating recovery time from damage. Give a good engineer a big budget and miracles happen.
Remember Gulf War I? YEARS to put out fires, experts assured us. Red Adair made it pretty short work. MONTHS to pump out New Orleans, experts told us. Try a few weeks when real pump guys got on the job.
Oil rigs aren't different. Speculators pumping disinformation so they can engage in profit-taking from the panicky rubes!
Somebody could be trying to make a few bucks in the trading market.