BP Puts Gulf Oil Disaster Cost at $19 Billion So Far

BP Plc has so far spent $19 billion on last year’s disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill and believes the uncertainty over the ultimate total has decreased, a company executive said Tuesday. BP, operator of the Macondo well, which ruptured in April 2010 and killed 11 workers, has taken a $41 billion charge to cover costs related to the accident, including a $20 billion fund to compensate those hurt or otherwise affected by the spill.