BP Now Saying Only 2,200 barrels being diverted by operation siphon

After announcing yesterday that they were effectively diverting up to 5,000 barrelsof oil from their broken pipe, British Petroleum (NYSE:BP) is now saying that they are only collecting less than half that amount.

BP is now saying that the mile long tube they inserted into the oil pipe that is gushing untold tens-of-thousands of barrels into the Gulf of Mexico everyday, is only catching 2,200 barrels.

A BP spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal that it is normal for the siphoning rate to fluctuate. The company will provide details later today about why the amount being siphoned has dropped.

BP's Chief Operating Officer, Doug Suttles, told reporters today that, "We've never said it's captured 5,000 barrels in a day." Yesterday there was widespread media coverage with BP announcing that they were successfully siphoning 5,000 barrels of oil. 

BP continues to come under fire for providing conflicting and confusing numbers that many are saying (including myself) is an attempt to downplay the real amount of oil that is pouring uncontrollably into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.