BP Starts Operation to Stop Oil Leak
Energy giant BP has launched a new operation to choke off a gushing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, with President Barack Obama cautioning that there is no guarantee the procedure will work.
BP Wednesday began pumping a mixture of heavy fluids into the leaking offshore well in its latest attempt to plug the leak. Company officials say it may take as long as two days to perform the procedure, known as a "top kill." BP says it is not clear how long it will take after that to ensure the maneuver has been successful. The work is being carried out by robotic submarines.
The company has put the chances of success for the top kill operation at 60 to 70 percent. Officials say the depth of the well - 1,500 meters beneath the surface - is the main reason success cannot be assured. Such an operation has never been attempted before at such a depth.
President Obama Wednesday said his administration will not rest until the leak is plugged and the cleanup completed. The president heads to the Gulf Coast Friday for his second trip to the region since the April 20 oil rig blast that killed 11 workers and unleashed the spill.
The president has called the situation "heartbreaking."
The Obama administration has come under pressure as oil washes up in the delicate Louisiana wetlands and other areas, endangering wildlife and livelihoods in commercial fishing and tourism.
The White House says President Obama will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss the spill and stringent new regulations affecting the offshore oil industry. Also Thursday, a report dealing with the safety of offshore drilling is expected to be sent to the president.
Late Tuesday, two U.S. congressmen released a memo saying BP had admitted it may have made a "fundamental mistake" in the hours leading up to the oil rig explosion. The memo says BP admitted it had continued work at the offshore oil well on April 20, despite receiving worrisome warning signals.
BP has been providing a video feed of the spill and has said it will provide video of the top kill procedure. It had been reported that the company might shut off the video link of the spill.
fuente: http://www1.voanews.com
BP Wednesday began pumping a mixture of heavy fluids into the leaking offshore well in its latest attempt to plug the leak. Company officials say it may take as long as two days to perform the procedure, known as a "top kill." BP says it is not clear how long it will take after that to ensure the maneuver has been successful. The work is being carried out by robotic submarines.
The company has put the chances of success for the top kill operation at 60 to 70 percent. Officials say the depth of the well - 1,500 meters beneath the surface - is the main reason success cannot be assured. Such an operation has never been attempted before at such a depth.
President Obama Wednesday said his administration will not rest until the leak is plugged and the cleanup completed. The president heads to the Gulf Coast Friday for his second trip to the region since the April 20 oil rig blast that killed 11 workers and unleashed the spill.
The president has called the situation "heartbreaking."
The Obama administration has come under pressure as oil washes up in the delicate Louisiana wetlands and other areas, endangering wildlife and livelihoods in commercial fishing and tourism.
The White House says President Obama will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss the spill and stringent new regulations affecting the offshore oil industry. Also Thursday, a report dealing with the safety of offshore drilling is expected to be sent to the president.
Late Tuesday, two U.S. congressmen released a memo saying BP had admitted it may have made a "fundamental mistake" in the hours leading up to the oil rig explosion. The memo says BP admitted it had continued work at the offshore oil well on April 20, despite receiving worrisome warning signals.
BP has been providing a video feed of the spill and has said it will provide video of the top kill procedure. It had been reported that the company might shut off the video link of the spill.
fuente: http://www1.voanews.com
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