Efforts continue against Gulf of Mexico oil leak with uncertain results
Energy company BP is continuing an operation Saturday to plug the deep-sea well that is spilling oil into the Gulf of Mexico, though it is unclear if their efforts are working.
The company is trying a procedure called a "top kill," which involves pumping in heavy mud to combat the leak, then using cement to seal it off.
BP officials have reported some progress, but say they will not know whether the top kill has been successful until Sunday at the earliest.
Some experts have said the procedure does not appear to be going well, based on video feeds of the underwater operation.
The leak, which has been gushing between an estimated 12,000 and 19,000 barrels of oil a day since last month, is the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
U.S. President Barack Obama says he is taking full responsibility for stopping the leak, while holding BP accountable for the costs.
Mr. Obama pledged during a trip to the Louisiana coast Friday to triple the manpower to help areas where oil is washing ashore.
The president promised not to abandon residents of the Gulf Coast who he said are "watching their livelihoods wash up on the beach."
In addition to the top kill procedure, BP is also using a method called a "junk shot" in which various sizes of metal pieces and rubber balls are shot into the well head at high speeds in an effort to clog it.
If these operations do not work, BP has another alternative plan, which is to lower a containment cap to collect spilling oil.
The company is continuing to drill two relief wells, which are considered the best solution to the problem. But work on those will not be completed for at least a couple of months.
BP has said efforts to contain the leak have cost it some $930 million.
The crisis began when an oil rig [Deepwater Horizon] exploded in the Gulf on April 20, killing 11 workers and rupturing the undersea well. The U.S. government estimates that between 70 million and 150 million liters of oil have gushed out since the explosion. The rupture has caused environmental degradation in surrounding waters and coastlines.
In response to the oil spill, Mr. Obama said Thursday he is extending a ban on new deep-water oil projects for six months to prevent other disasters. The move will also suspend applications for Arctic oil drilling off the coast of Alaska.
VOA News
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