Updated

BP PLC says it has paid $303 million in claims to more than 40,000 businesses and individuals affected by the Gulf oil spill.

The company's update Thursday also says $112 million of that money has been paid in the past three weeks.

BP says it will continue making payments until Kenneth Feinberg, the Obama administration's pay czar, takes over processing claims from a $20 billion oil spill compensation fund later this month.