Jess
August 4th, 2010, 09:18 AM
BP plugs well with mud; feds say much of oil gone (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100804/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill)
NEW ORLEANS – BP claimed a key victory Wednesday in the effort to plug its blown-out well as a government report said much of the spilled oil is gone — though what's left is still at least quadruple the amount that poured from the Exxon Valdez.
BP PLC reached what it called a significant milestone overnight when mud that was forced down the well held back the flow of crude. That means the procedure known as a "static kill" appears to be working, though crews now must decide whether to follow it up with cement.
Federal officials won't declare complete victory until they pump in mud and then cement from the bottom of the well, and that won't happen for several weeks.
"We've pretty much made this well not a threat, but we need to finish this from the bottom," retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the government's point man on the spill response, told WWL-TV in New Orleans.
About 75 percent of the oil has either been captured, been burned off, evaporated or broken down in the Gulf, according to a report to be released Wednesday by scientists with the Interior Department and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"It was captured. It was skimmed. It was burned. It was contained. Mother Nature did her part," White House energy adviser Carol Browner said on NBC's "Today" show.
About 26 percent of the oil remains in the sea in the form of light surface sheen or tar balls, or has washed ashore, according to the report.
....more in the link.....
NEW ORLEANS – BP claimed a key victory Wednesday in the effort to plug its blown-out well as a government report said much of the spilled oil is gone — though what's left is still at least quadruple the amount that poured from the Exxon Valdez.
BP PLC reached what it called a significant milestone overnight when mud that was forced down the well held back the flow of crude. That means the procedure known as a "static kill" appears to be working, though crews now must decide whether to follow it up with cement.
Federal officials won't declare complete victory until they pump in mud and then cement from the bottom of the well, and that won't happen for several weeks.
"We've pretty much made this well not a threat, but we need to finish this from the bottom," retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the government's point man on the spill response, told WWL-TV in New Orleans.
About 75 percent of the oil has either been captured, been burned off, evaporated or broken down in the Gulf, according to a report to be released Wednesday by scientists with the Interior Department and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"It was captured. It was skimmed. It was burned. It was contained. Mother Nature did her part," White House energy adviser Carol Browner said on NBC's "Today" show.
About 26 percent of the oil remains in the sea in the form of light surface sheen or tar balls, or has washed ashore, according to the report.
....more in the link.....