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BP makes 'progress' with new cap BP makes 'progress' with new cap
(about 4 hours later)
BP's undersea robots are working to fit the sealing capBP's undersea robots are working to fit the sealing cap
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.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.
Adm Allen, the commander overseeing the spill response, said: "This could lead to the shutting of the well."Adm Allen, the commander overseeing the spill response, said: "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.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. Meanwhile, the US government issued a new deep-water drilling moratorium to replace one struck down in court.
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. The moratorium was reworked by the US interior department in the hope of gaining the approval of a federal court that rejected the Obama administration's earlier ban, saying it was too broad.
The new moratorium applies to any deep-water floating drilling facility but is not based on the water depth where drilling occurs. It will end by 30 November or sooner.
It is unclear whether a federal court in Louisiana will look at the new moratorium more favourably.
The news of progress on the new cap 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.
The presidential commission to investigate the oil spill also began its hearings on Monday.The presidential commission to investigate the oil spill also began its hearings on Monday.
NEW CAP FOR LEAKING OIL WELL
In June, BP placed a cap, known as an LMRP cap, over the top of the Deepwater Horizon well so oil could be siphoned to the surface. The company is now replacing this with a tightly fitting version - a sealing cap.
NEW CAP FOR LEAKING OIL WELL
On 10 July engineers removed the LMRP cap, meaning oil began to freely leak from the top of the blowout preventer once more, although the Q4000 containment system continues to take some oil to the surface.
NEW CAP FOR LEAKING OIL WELL
BP is currently working to place a new capping stack on the blowout preventer (BOP). Once connected, it is hoped that rams in the stack can be closed, shutting off the flow of oil from the top of the BOP.
NEW CAP FOR LEAKING OIL WELL
At the same time, engineers are preparing to hook up a floating riser pipe to the Helix Producer ship. The system is designed to be easily disconnected in a hurricane.
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NEW CAP FOR LEAKING OIL WELL
In June, BP placed a cap, known as an LMRP cap, over the top of the Deepwater Horizon well so oil could be siphoned to the surface. The company is now replacing this with a tightly fitting version - a sealing cap.
NEW CAP FOR LEAKING OIL WELL
On 10 July engineers removed the LMRP cap, meaning oil began to freely leak from the top of the blowout preventer once more, although the Q4000 containment system continues to take some oil to the surface.
NEW CAP FOR LEAKING OIL WELL
BP is currently working to place a new capping stack on the blowout preventer (BOP). Once connected, it is hoped that rams in the stack can be closed, shutting off the flow of oil from the top of the BOP.
NEW CAP FOR LEAKING OIL WELL
At the same time, engineers are preparing to hook up a floating riser pipe to the Helix Producer ship. The system is designed to be easily disconnected in a hurricane.
BACK {current} of {total} NEXT
President Barack Obama, who has visited the area several times, has labelled the spill the nation's worst-ever environmental disaster.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.Coastal communities from Florida to Alabama rely on fishing and tourism, and many people believe the spill will wipe out their livelihoods.
'Critical point''Critical point'
Work on the new containment cap, which BP hopes will eventually help to capture all of the leaking oil, began on Saturday.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."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.
Inside a cavernous hotel conference room, the commission is holding its first public meeting.Inside a cavernous hotel conference room, the commission is holding its first public meeting.
The purpose is to "hear directly from the people of the Gulf coast whose lives have been so profoundly".The purpose is to "hear directly from the people of the Gulf coast whose lives have been so profoundly".
The commission is charged by President Obama with providing recommendations on how to prevent future spills.The commission is charged by President Obama with providing recommendations on how to prevent future spills.
A man selling Revolution newspaper stands up, and denounces the commission as illegitimate. He is escorted from the room by the police.A man selling Revolution newspaper stands up, and denounces the commission as illegitimate. He is escorted from the room by the police.
At the registration desk where people sign up to speak, I meet Dr Robin Pitblado, who works for a Norwegian energy risk management company.At the registration desk where people sign up to speak, I meet Dr Robin Pitblado, who works for a Norwegian energy risk management company.
He says the entire deepwater drilling industry needs to undergo a change in its attitude to safety.He says the entire deepwater drilling industry needs to undergo a change in its attitude to safety.
There was nearly a similar explosion in a north sea oil rig in 2007, he says.There was nearly a similar explosion in a north sea oil rig in 2007, he says.
William Riley, former head of the environmental protection agency and commission co-chairman, says: "No voice matters more than those whose lives and livelihoods have been fouled by oil.William Riley, former head of the environmental protection agency and commission co-chairman, says: "No voice matters more than those whose lives and livelihoods have been fouled by oil.
"Our hearts go out to those who lost family and friends"."Our hearts go out to those who lost family and friends".
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.
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.
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.
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.
BP's permanent solution to the leak is to drill two relief wells - a process it expects to be finished by mid-August.BP's permanent solution to the leak is to drill two relief wells - a process it expects to be finished by mid-August.
The first of the relief wells reached a depth of 17,810ft on Sunday, and the tenth ranging run, a test to help zero in on the casing of the leaking well, was done.The first of the relief wells reached a depth of 17,810ft on Sunday, and the tenth ranging run, a test to help zero in on the casing of the leaking well, was done.