Oil industry expert Matt Simmons says that BP is not telling us the full story, and that independent research performed by the Thomas Jefferson research ship suggests that over 120,000 barrels per day are spewing into the gulf. At this rate we would exceed the current oil spill world record in about 25 days.

Matt Simmons on Bloomberg:

I think basically we now know a whole lot of better information from the scientists who are totally disputing what BP’s story has been.

…

What the Thomas Jefferson found in a week is the most specific information we know. Basically 1100 meters below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico is a 300 – 400 meter lake of very heavy oil that has spreading so fast that it’s covering potentially 40% of the Gulf of Mexico.

…

They’re actually now predicting that it’s 120,000 barrels a day. But more importantly, they are almost certain, because of the lack of being able to detect where to well bore was, because they can’t get within three miles of it because there’s too much fire, there’s no metal there so the casing’s gone. With no casing it’s an open hole and the only way we’ll ever put it out is by detonating something that will fuse the rock right above the oil column into glass. And the only way that anyone’s ever done that is the four times the Soviets did that in the seventies with a very small bore nuclear device.

So I think that’s now our only option.

Let’s hope that Mr. Simmons is wrong and that the leak is not as bad as he claims scientific evidence suggests. However, if the recent actions by our Federal Government and BP are any guide, the problem may very well be as big as independent reports suggest and perhaps the only option left if the relief wells fail will be to detonate a nuclear device. It’s all speculation at this point because neither BP or the Federal Government has given us any truthful information on the matter and the media blackout in the Gulf and on our shores continues unabated.

Defining Irony: A green energy, non-proliferation President presides over the largest domestic (potentially global) oil spill in the last 100 years and is then forced to detonate a nuclear weapon to seal it shut.

Watch the Bloomberg Interview with Matt Simmons: