It certainly looks that way, and no one in the traditional media has said a word about it.
First, have a look at section 7.1 of the Initial Exploration Plan Mississippi Canyon Block 252 for lease OCS-G 32306 (heavy PDF), submitted by BP Exploration and Production Inc. to the government's Mineral Management Service:
162,000 is the number of barrels of oil per day that BP stated could result from an uncontrolled blowout.
Now have a look at this reporting from AP:
Execs: 60,000 barrels is worst-case Gulf scenario
WASHINGTON — Executives from BP PLC tell members of a congressional committee that in the worst-case scenario a leaking well could spew up to 60,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico....
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., says industry officials told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the worst-case scenario is 60,000 barrels a day, or 2.5 million gallons.
So who should we believe, BP executives or our lying eyes?
Note that this was closed-door testimony and it is unclear whether or not these executives were under oath when they testified. A Freedom of Information Act request should be filed to find out.
Meanwhile:
Since spill, agency has given 27 waivers to oil companies in Gulf
Since the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded April 20, the Obama administration has granted oil and gas companies at least 27 exemptions from doing in-depth environmental studies of oil exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico.
Discuss.