WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BP says its costs to respond to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has risen to about $6.1 billion.

The price tag includes expenses for relief well drilling, the static kill and cementing procedure done on the blown out oil well, grants to Gulf coast states and claims paid to people who have lost income or profits because of the spill.

BP says as of Saturday, more than 145,000 claims had been submitted and more than 103,900 had been paid, totaling $319 million.