DigitalGlobe Satellite Returns High-Resolution Photos of Oil Slick
New images show oil's spread; leak is 5 times worse than originally thought The massive oil spill from a BP offshore drilling rig threatens marine ecosystems and fisheries as it makes its way to the shoreline. Here's how it looks from above. The Macondo well is spilling 5,000 barrels of oil per day into the gulf, about five times more than well owner British Petroleum initially reported. Efforts to stem the leak using controlled burning and even undersea robots have been unsuccessful so far. The spill started after an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon rig last week, in which 11 workers are believed to have been killed. As of this afternoon, the AP reports that two Air Force planes are awaiting orders to start dumping chemicals on the oil spill. Oil Slick: The oil slick off the Gulf of Mexico, as seen from DigitalGlobe's QuickBird satellite. DigitalGlobe