By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-906835.mp3
New Orleans, La. – Several panels of experts assembled by the Obama administration are monitoring high-resolution video of the leaking cap system, using sound tests and pressure readings to estimate the spill rate. US Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt heads the government panels. She says the revised numbers don't reflect the spill rate after BP sliced open its riser pipe last week to funnel oil to surface ships. McNutt says an exact amount won't be known until the well is completely shut off.
"We will be able go back and understand better how in the future we actually would be able to understand from Day One what the flow from a leaking well would be."
She says BP is conducting more pressure tests at the well to determine if cutting the pipe made the spill even worse.
For NPR News, I'm Eileen Fleming in New Orleans.