[Updated at 9:30 p.m.]
Here are the latest developments on the oil disaster in the
Gulf of Mexico, which unfolded after an explosion aboard the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20:

NEW

– The chief of Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said Friday that the oil spill in the Gulf was the “the direct result of BP’s reckless decisions and actions” and, as such, BP should continue to pay all legitimate claims. BP was the company’s partner in the drilling of the well.

– In response, BP said it “strongly disagrees with these allegations” and reiterated its pledge to clean up the Gulf and pay all legitimate claims related to the spill.

– The Department of the Interior on Friday ordered oil and gas companies to submit information addressing the possibility of a well blowout and detailing the steps they are taking to prevent a blowout whenever they file for a drilling permit, exploration plan, or development plan.

– Environmental groups say that Ray Mabus, the man tapped by President Obama to formulate a Gulf Coast Restoration Plan, should give up his current post of Navy Secretary to focus on the Gulf full time.

– White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told CNN that Mabus had the ability to carry out both jobs.

CLEANUP

Approximately 25,000 barrels of oil – slightly more than 1 million gallons – were collected from the well in the 24-hour period ending at midnight Thursday, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen told reporters Friday. The total represents an increase of nearly 6,700 barrels – or roughly 281,000 gallons – compared with Wednesday’s tally. Federal officials anticipate a total collection capacity of up to 80,000 barrels per day by July.

– The drilling of two relief wells has reached depths of 10,677 and 4,662 feet below the sea floor, but they are not expected to be completed until August, according to Allen.

– The latest wildlife report said 665 visibly oiled birds were recovered alive this week – 161 more than last week. Two hundred twelve visibly oiled birds were found dead – 85 more than last week. Seventy-five visibly oiled sea turtles were collected alive – 40 more than last week. Eight visibly oiled sea turtles were collected dead – one more than last week.

– Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa is demanding to know if BP knew the Deepwater Horizon well could be gushing as much as 60,000 barrels of oil a day, and failed to inform the public. A team of government and independent scientists announced Tuesday that the flow rate might be as high as 60,000 barrels a day, but Grassley believes BP may have known sooner. An undated BP document provided to the senator says “an absolute worst case flow rate of 60,000 barrels a day was calculated.”

PAYMENT

– Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was appointed earlier this week by Obama to manage BP’s $20 billion compensation fund, pledged Friday to quickly create a system for processing claims.

– A judge whom BP wants to hear an estimated 200 lawsuits over the oil disaster gets tens of thousands of dollars a year in oil royalties and paid travel to industry conferences, financial disclosure forms show. Lawyers who practice before U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes say he’s tough but fair, and a CNN review of his cases found he ruled in favor of oil companies only slightly more often than he ruled against them.

POLITICS

– Rep. Bart Stupak closed a hearing Thursday on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations – by telling BP CEO Tony Hayward, “I think the evasiveness of your answers only served to increase the frustration, not decrease the frustration, not just of members of Congress, but that of the American people.”

– During the hearing Thursday, Hayward said, “There are no suggestions I have seen so far that anyone put cost ahead of safety.” Republican Rep. Phil Gingrey of Georgia fired back, “With all due respect, Mr. Hayward, I think you’re copping out.”

– Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Texas retracted his apology to BP on Thursday and issued his own apology for calling the $20 billion damage fund created by the oil giant a “shakedown.”

– Barton was told by House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, to “apologize immediately” or lose his position on the committee, according to a senior House GOP leadership aide.

– Barton’s retraction came after the White House pounced on his comment. “What is shameful is that Joe Barton seems to have more concern for big corporations that caused this disaster than the fishermen, small business owners and communities whose lives have been devastated by the destruction,” said a statement from spokesman Robert Gibbs.

– Six in 10 Americans disapprove of how Obama’s handling the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a jump from last month, a national poll says. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey indicates that most of the public disapproves of BP’s handling of the disaster.