There are of course piles of private lawsuits and a probe by Texas authorities into possible excessive pollution in April and May at a BP refinery in Texas City, which suffered a deadly explosion in 2005 that killed 15 and injured 180.
Though the well has been finally plugged and the visible effects of the oil spill have largely disappeared, scientists are still assessing the long-term environmental damage.
An argument is already brewing over the long-term impact, with some scientists warning that the whole biological network in the Gulf of Mexico could be changed by the spill and others saying the effect could be quite small.
Some scientists cautioned that a large amount of runaway oil is still in the Gulf but its quantity and whereabouts remain unknown. They feared that much of the oil had been trapped below the surface following the use of millions of liters of chemical dispersant. Evidence has been found that large clouds of oil suspend in the water.
As this oil can affect the food chain and deplete oxygen in the water, scientists say that they want to know how fast the oil is being eaten by microbes and being diluted and where it is heading for.
Related:
BP's spill-related claims payments reach 256 million dollars
HOUSTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- British oil giant BP said on Wednesday it has paid 256 million U.S. dollars to claimants who have lost income or net profit due to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The London-based company said in a news release that it has paid 30 million dollars in the past week and will start paying another 60 million in advance money to cover August payments. Full story
BP struggles for fresh start amid lingering woes
LONDON/WASHINGTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- BP Plc is making drastic moves, including replacing its gaffe-prone chief executive, to recover from the disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill and rejuvenate its business.
Yet a crush of challenges remain before the battered British oil giant, as it scrambles to cover the costs related to the environmental catastrophe, repair its reputation, streamline its structure and deal with various probes and legal action. Full story
BP reports $17 bln loss after $32 bln spill charges
BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhuanet) -- BP has reported a loss of 17 billion U.S. dollars between April and June, after 32 billion dollars in charges related to the oil spill, and would sell off 30 billion dollars of assets.
Its newly named Chief Executive Bob Dudley called the Gulf oil spill a "wake-up call" for the entire industry, saying that safety would be among his highest priorities in his efforts to refurbish the British oil company's battered reputation according to Reuters reports. Full story
BP CEO Tony Hayward to quit in October
LONDON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- BP confirmed on Tuesday that its chief executive Tony Hayward would leave his post in October and will be replaced by Bob Dudley, who is currently in charge of clean-up operation in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hayward has been heavily criticized for his handling of the oil leak, and local media reported that Hayward will instead be nominated for the role of non-executive director of Russian joint venture TNK-BP. Full story
