A supply vessel passes through oil floating near the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana on May 31. (Photo Source: chinanews.com)

British oil giant BP on Monday said the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has so far reached 3.1 billion U.S. dollars, media reported.?

The bill includes the cost of containing the spill and cleaning up the oil, and the cost of drilling relief wells.

It also includes the 147 million dollars paid out in compensation to some of those affected by the spill.

The company confirmed that efforts to collect oil from the surface of the water had been temporarily placed on hold due to Hurricane Alex, which is currently passing through the region.

Oil is continuing to leak into the Gulf of Mexico following the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in April.

The company said the construction of two relief wells, which are considered the best hope of stopping the oil leaking from the ruptured underwater well, are on track for completion by August.