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| Funnel 'poised over' US oil spill | Funnel 'poised over' US oil spill |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A giant funnel has been positioned above a blown-out oil well on the seabed in the Gulf of Mexico in an attempt to contain oil leaking from it. | |
| Remote-controlled submersibles have guided the 98-tonne device to 200ft (61m) above the main leak, some 5,000 ft (1,500m) below the surface. | |
| It is hoped it will be able to collect as much as 85% of the oil and begin funnelling it to ships above by Monday. | |
| Oil from the slick has washed ashore on islands off the coast of Louisiana. | |
| US officials announced on Friday they had closed Breton National Wildlife Refuge to the public after a silver sheen of oil reached the shoreline. The refuge includes the Chandeleur Islands chain. | |
| "The refuge closure is important to keep the public safe, to minimize disturbance to nesting colonial sea birds, and to allow personnel conducting cleanup operations and recovery efforts to work safely and efficiently," the US Fish and Wildlife Service said. | |
| The BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani on Dauphin Island, an inhabited barrier island 3 miles (5km) off the coast of Alabama, says there is a faint but distinct smell of oil in the air. | |
| Meanwhile, some scientists say the oil may be spread more widely. Small, black particles have been found in samples taken from below the surface, away from the visible slick, our correspondent adds. | |
| Risky operation | Risky operation |
| An estimated 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) of oil a day has been leaking unstopped for 18 days from the well, 50 miles (80km) off Louisiana, since an explosion destroyed the Deepwater Horizon rig last month, killing 11 workers. | |
| Although the rig was operated by Transocean, it was leased by the British oil giant, BP, which has taken charge of the clean-up process. | Although the rig was operated by Transocean, it was leased by the British oil giant, BP, which has taken charge of the clean-up process. |
| It said it hoped the gigantic concrete and steel containment device, once operational, would contain about 85% of the oil leaking out. | It said it hoped the gigantic concrete and steel containment device, once operational, would contain about 85% of the oil leaking out. |
| HOW THE OIL FUNNEL WORKS The funnel is a 40ft tall iron box, weighing 98 tonnesIt will be placed over the leak, 5,000ft down on the seabedBP hopes it will collect 85% of the leaking oil and pipe it to the surface | HOW THE OIL FUNNEL WORKS The funnel is a 40ft tall iron box, weighing 98 tonnesIt will be placed over the leak, 5,000ft down on the seabedBP hopes it will collect 85% of the leaking oil and pipe it to the surface |
| When the device reaches its destination, the robots will then secure it around the leaking pipe, a process that is expected to take hours. The technology has been used a few times in shallow waters, but never at such extreme depths and under such high pressure. | When the device reaches its destination, the robots will then secure it around the leaking pipe, a process that is expected to take hours. The technology has been used a few times in shallow waters, but never at such extreme depths and under such high pressure. |
| A BP official said the "containment dome" was being lowered to the seabed - and activity expected to be completed by the end of Friday. | A BP official said the "containment dome" was being lowered to the seabed - and activity expected to be completed by the end of Friday. |
| "Over the next two days, over the weekend, we expect to connect that dome to drill ship Enterprise at which time hopefully the beginning of next week we'll begin to start to evacuate the oil from the seabed up to the surface," Doug Suttles, chief operating officer, told the Associated Press news agency. | "Over the next two days, over the weekend, we expect to connect that dome to drill ship Enterprise at which time hopefully the beginning of next week we'll begin to start to evacuate the oil from the seabed up to the surface," Doug Suttles, chief operating officer, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| If the device is not aligned properly while being lowered, it could make the problem worse by damaging the leaking pipe. | If the device is not aligned properly while being lowered, it could make the problem worse by damaging the leaking pipe. |
| Other risks include the drill-pipe becoming clogged with ice, and explosions when separating the mix of oil, gas and water on the surface. | Other risks include the drill-pipe becoming clogged with ice, and explosions when separating the mix of oil, gas and water on the surface. |
| But if the containment device works, a second box now being built will be lowered into the water over a second, smaller leak. | But if the containment device works, a second box now being built will be lowered into the water over a second, smaller leak. |
| Fears are growing for the safety of the area's manifest wildlife | Fears are growing for the safety of the area's manifest wildlife |
| These devices will not put an end to the problem on the seafloor. A relief well is still being drilled while BP thinks up other ways to help stop the leak. | These devices will not put an end to the problem on the seafloor. A relief well is still being drilled while BP thinks up other ways to help stop the leak. |
| In the meantime, residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida await news of when the oil will reach their shores. | In the meantime, residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida await news of when the oil will reach their shores. |
| BP said emergency teams had been sent to Freemason Island, a favourite fishing spot for recreational anglers some 30 miles (50km) off Louisiana's coast, to deploy inflatable booms to protect its prime marshland. | BP said emergency teams had been sent to Freemason Island, a favourite fishing spot for recreational anglers some 30 miles (50km) off Louisiana's coast, to deploy inflatable booms to protect its prime marshland. |
| Fears are growing that sea life may have been severely affected in the area, which includes vital spawning grounds for fish, shrimp and crabs. | Fears are growing that sea life may have been severely affected in the area, which includes vital spawning grounds for fish, shrimp and crabs. |
| The attempt by BP to lower the funnel comes as Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar called for a halt to permits for new exploratory drilling in the US, pending a 30-day investigation into the cause of the oil spill. | The attempt by BP to lower the funnel comes as Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar called for a halt to permits for new exploratory drilling in the US, pending a 30-day investigation into the cause of the oil spill. |
| Some environmentalists are now calling for a permanent ban on offshore drilling as a result of the spill. | Some environmentalists are now calling for a permanent ban on offshore drilling as a result of the spill. |
| PROJECTED SPREAD OF OIL SPILL ON 7 MAY | PROJECTED SPREAD OF OIL SPILL ON 7 MAY |