BP’s oil spill clean-up bill rockets by $100m

The cost of BP's huge clean-up operation after its Gulf of Mexico oil leak has soared by $100 million (£67.7 million) in three days.

BP said today it has spent $450 million since the disaster began on April 20 — up from $350 million which it announced on Monday.

The oil giant had already warned that the clean-up is likely to take at least three months as the broken well continues to spew out 5,000 barrels of oil a day.

Some analysts warn the total cost, including legal claims, could hit at least $5 billion.

BP is trying to stem leaking oil from the damaged well, which sits on the sea-bed more than
5,000 feet below the surface.

The company plans to inject "material of varying densities" and then pump in "specialised heavy fluids" to plug the leak.

BP will also try to lower a "top hat" dome structure to cover the well, after a previous effort with a bigger dome failed last week.

The oil company admitted that there were "significant uncertainties" about whether the emergency efforts will work.

BP has come under intense political pressure from President Barack Obama as the vast slick threatens the US coastline.

More than 13,000 BP and other personnel are involved in the clean-up.

BP said it has received 6700 financial claims and has already paid 1000 of them.