ConocoPhillips said it was still estimating the amount of oil that has escaped from the leak, which first came to light a month ago, and had uncovered evidence it may have been larger than it thought. -- PHOTO: AP
BEIJING - A MASSIVE oil spill off north-east China may be worse than first thought, the US energy giant behind the leak said, after authorities ordered it to clean up the sea bed by Sunday.
ConocoPhillips said it was still estimating the amount of oil that has escaped from the leak, which first came to light a month ago, and had uncovered evidence it may have been larger than it thought.
'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 on 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.'
ConocoPhillips said it had reported the discovery to the authorities, and divers were continuing to work on cleaning up the sea bed.
Earlier this week China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) accused the company of dragging its feet over the clean-up and threatened to fine it 200,000 yuan (S$37,530). -- AFP
