BP's top kill effort stops oil flow

BP’s top kill effort to plug a leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico appears have stopped the flow of oil and gas and ’stabilised the wellhead,’ according to US news reports.

The US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen told New Orleans radio show WWL First News, ’They’ve stopped the hydrocarbons from coming up. They’ve been able to stabilise the well head, they are pumping mud down it.’

Allen told the station the task is to now ensure the mud can hold the oil and gas back long enough for them to cap the well.

’The goal is to put enough mud down the well bore to the point where there is no pressure exerted back by the hydrocarbons and then allow a cement plug to be put in place,’ he said.

 

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