BP fighting hurricane-related offshore oil leak

HOUSTON (Reuters) – BP Plc (BP.L) is working to control an offshore oil well damaged by Hurricane Katrina nearly a year ago that continues to leak small amounts of crude, officials said on Wednesday.

The well, 18 miles off the Louisiana coast in the Grand Isle 47 block, has released 93 barrels of oil since a platform collapsed during Katrina, a spokesman said.

Most releases have been less than a barrel, but the largest single leak, a 25-barrel “burp,” occurred on August 15, the company said.

“Any is too much,” BP spokesman Neil Chapman said. “We’re moving as quickly as we can to address the issue.”

Reuters