Gulf of Mexico: One of three oil leaks has been capped

One of three leaks in the Gulf of Mexico, caused by BP’s (BP) Deepwater Horizon spill incident, has been capped, but oil is still flowing out at a considerable rate, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

“At the source, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) cut off a section at the end of the riser pipe, which used to lead from the well to the rig, and capped it with a valve.  While this stopped one of the three leaks, oil continues to enter the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of approximately 5000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day. Test applications of dispersants at the sea floor continue. If successful, the technique might reduce oil at the surface.  The first collection dome, a large cofferdam-like structure, will take about a week to be fully rigged and functional.” [emphasis added]