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BP in fresh bid to plug oil leak BP makes new bid to plug oil leak
(about 14 hours later)
BP will use a lull in the storm season in its latest attempt to cap the leak BP will use a lull in the storm season in its latest attempts to cap the leak
BP will start replacing the cap over the blown-out oil well in the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, reports say. BP has begun an operation to fit a tighter cap over its blown-out oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.
It is hoped the new cap will significantly increase the amount of oil being captured from the sea-bed. An underwater robot was preparing to take off the existing dome, and lay the ground for the new one.
However while it is being replaced oil will flow unimpeded into the sea. But the operation may last between four and seven days - meaning oil will flow unimpeded into the sea.
BP's submersible robots could start removing the current containment cap from the ocean floor as early as Saturday, the Coast Guard commander overseeing the response said. Another system is also being linked up and may start collecting crude on Sunday, BP says. It is drilling two wells to intercept and block the leak.
Admiral Thad Allen said the flow of leaking oil could be shut off by Monday. But in that time hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil could flow unabated into the ocean. It estimates the first of these wells will be finished in the first half of August, enabling the company to intercept the damaged well "and kill operations performed".
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April killed 11 people. President Barack Obama has called the leak the biggest environmental disaster in US history.
Increased potential
BP's submersible robots are preparing to remove the current containment cap from the ocean floor.
The new sealing cap - similar to a smaller version of the damaged blow-out preventer - has three devices that are designed to shut the flow, the closing rams, and multiple ports for connecting pipes to collect crude.
According to BP, the new cap "creates the potential to increase oil and gas containment capacity to greater than 50,000 barrels per day and should improve containment efficiency during hurricane season by allowing shorter disconnect and reconnect times".
The company said that "there can be no assurance that the sealing cap will be successfully installed or installed within the anticipated timeframe", given it has never been attempted at this depth before.
It added that contingency caps like the existing one are at the ready on the seabed, should the replacement operation fail.
The company also said that favourable weather conditions had made it possible to begin another operation in tandem - connecting a new ship to the blow-out preventer.
Known as the Helix Producer, it will begin collecting oil and sending it to a third ship being used for the purpose.
BP says this could begin "ramping up containment operations as early as Sunday".
The containment dome currently collects about half the amount of oil gushing out of the damaged well.
On Friday, the Coast Guard commander overseeing the response, Adm Thad Allen, said the flow of leaking oil could be shut off by Monday. But in that time hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil could flow unabated into the ocean.
"We have a significant chance to dramatically reduce the oil that's being released into the environment and maybe shut the well in altogether in the next week," he said."We have a significant chance to dramatically reduce the oil that's being released into the environment and maybe shut the well in altogether in the next week," he said.
"I use the word 'contained'," said Admiral Allen. "'Stop' is when we put the plug in down below." "I use the word 'contained'," said Adm Allen. "'Stop' is when we put the plug in down below."
BP is continuing work on what it hopes will be the ultimate solution - drilling two wells to intercept and block the leak, under the seabed.
Lull in storms
BP is hopeful the new cap will enable it to capture almost all the escaping crude, says BBC correspondent Madeleine Morris in Washington.
At the moment it is believed that BP is siphoning off only around half the leaking oil.At the moment it is believed that BP is siphoning off only around half the leaking oil.
Current US government estimates of the spill range from between 35,000 to 60,000 barrels a day.Current US government estimates of the spill range from between 35,000 to 60,000 barrels a day.
The company is taking advantage of a predicted week-long lull in the storm season to make the changes to its operation.
It also plans to connect a third containment ship to capture more oil.
On Thursday BP said its operation to drill a new relief well to stop the Deepwater Horizon leak was ahead of schedule.On Thursday BP said its operation to drill a new relief well to stop the Deepwater Horizon leak was ahead of schedule.
The latest efforts to halt the environmental catastrophe come as one of BP's partners in the deepwater well refuses to pay its share of the costs so far. BP's bill so far has been more than $3.1bn - and it has agreed to set up a $20bn fund to deal with compensation claims and clean-up costs.
Houston-based Anadarko, which owns 25% of the Macondo well, was asked to pay $272m (£180m) by BP.
But an Anadarko spokesman said it was going to withhold payment.
BP said it was "disappointed" that the firm had "failed to live up to their obligations".
He said another firm with a stake in the project, Mitsui Oil Exploration, had also not responded to a request to help pay for the spill.
BP's bill so far after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in April has been more than $3.1bn - and it has agreed to set up a $20bn fund to deal with compensation claims and clean-up costs.
President Obama has called the leak the biggest environmental disaster in US history.