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BP happy with US oil-cap progress BP makes 'progress' with new cap
(about 3 hours later)
BP's undersea robots are working to fit the sealing capBP's undersea robots are working to fit the sealing cap
A major effort to put a new cap on the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico is making good progress, according to oil giant BP. Engineers have made "significant progress" towards putting a new cap on the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, US Coast Guard commander Thad Allen has said.
Work on the cap, which BP hopes will eventually help to capture all of the leaking oil, began on Saturday and is expected to be completed within days. Adm Allen, the commander overseeing the spill response, told US TV: "This could lead to the shutting of the well."
He said BP hoped to close the cap and run a "pressure test" later in the day.
The cap is one of several devices BP has deployed as it works on a permanent solution - expected by mid-August.The cap is one of several devices BP has deployed as it works on a permanent solution - expected by mid-August.
News of the progress comes ahead of a planned visit to the region by First Lady Michelle Obama, who is expected to be briefed by officials and local leaders and speak to local community members.
President Barack Obama, who has visited the area several times, has labelled the spill the nation's worst-ever environmental disaster.
Coastal communities from Florida to Alabama rely on fishing and tourism, and many people believe the spill will wipe out their livelihoods.
'Critical point'
Work on the new containment cap, which BP hopes will eventually help to capture all of the leaking oil, began on Saturday.
"The hope is that we can slowly turn off the valves, close the capping completely and then test pressure to see how the well is performing," Adm Allen told CBS News on Monday morning.
The White House says containment efforts are at a "critical point".The White House says containment efforts are at a "critical point".
"The new containment procedure will more than triple our containment capacity when it's all said and done," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told NBC television."The new containment procedure will more than triple our containment capacity when it's all said and done," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told NBC television.
Share rally
BP says it has spent $3.5bn (£2.3bn) on the response effort so far.BP says it has spent $3.5bn (£2.3bn) on the response effort so far.
Attempts to stem the flow of oil have been elaborate and costlyAttempts to stem the flow of oil have been elaborate and costly
In addition, the firm has also set aside a $20bn fund to pay for the clean-up operation and other costs.In addition, the firm has also set aside a $20bn fund to pay for the clean-up operation and other costs.
The value of BP shares has been almost halved by the disaster, but in early trading in London its share price continued a recent rally, climbing 5.5% to 384.7p.The value of BP shares has been almost halved by the disaster, but in early trading in London its share price continued a recent rally, climbing 5.5% to 384.7p.
Meanwhile, First Lady Michelle Obama is due to visit communities affected by the spill later.
President Barack Obama, who has visited the area several times, has labelled the spill the nation's worst-ever environmental disaster.
Coastal communities from Florida to Alabama rely on fishing and tourism, and many people believe the spill will wipe out their livelihoods.
Unchecked spill
In a statement, BP said installation of the sealing cap was "proceeding as planned".In a statement, BP said installation of the sealing cap was "proceeding as planned".
Earlier, the firm's vice-president Kent Wells said he was pleased with the progress of the operation.Earlier, the firm's vice-president Kent Wells said he was pleased with the progress of the operation.
"We have carefully planned and practised this whole procedure. We've tried to work out as many of the bugs as we can," he said."We have carefully planned and practised this whole procedure. We've tried to work out as many of the bugs as we can," he said.
But he warned that "something unexpected" was bound to pose a challenge for the undersea robots installing the cap.But he warned that "something unexpected" was bound to pose a challenge for the undersea robots installing the cap.
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April killed 11 people. Since then, thousands of barrels of oil have been spilling into the the sea every day.The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April killed 11 people. Since then, thousands of barrels of oil have been spilling into the the sea every day.
Officials expect that the new sealing cap, combined with the other collection devices, will give BP enough capacity to collect all of the leaking oil. BP's permanent solution to the leak is to drill two relief wells - a process it expects to be finished by mid-August.
But while the current work is under way, large amounts of oil are spilling largely unchecked into the Atlantic.
BP's permanent solution to the leak is to drill two relief wells - a process it expects to be finished by early August.