A diamond saw makes a new cut in the well head pipe. AP
More frustration in this latest attempt to contain the oil spill and leak in the Gulf of Mexico as a diamond headed saw got stuck in the pipe. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said Tuesday he had a "pretty good level of confidence" that the so-called cut and cap technique would work. However, as the broken saw is removed and a technicians wait for a second saw, the oil leak has increased by 20%.
This risky operation was BP's 7th attempt to control the flow of oil into open waters that has now added up to over 40 million gallons by best estimates. This operation Cut and Cap or the LMRP Cap involved making a clean cut of the well head pipe below the break. This began on Tuesday, June 1st as seen in the video below. The second part involves placing a custom built containment LMRP Cap weighing 46,000 pounds over the exposed pipe. This will then siphon the 'majority' oil to ships at the surface. Still, the final fix will not come until August, when a secondary well is expected to be completed and finally shut off the tap.
This LMRP Cap might sound like maneuvers tried before, but lessons have been learned. The first Cofferdam did not work because of hydrate crystals that made it float, diminishing the capping ability. The siphon tried by inserting a smaller tube into the broken pipe was eventually blown out.
Latest Maps:
Oil Spill: June 2nd projection maps, weather outlook, loop current
BP attempts to contain the oil include:
LMRP Cap- video and slide show explanation.
Riser Insertion Tube and Skimming
See the video of the first part of this operation below. Check back for the latest on the US probe into criminal and civil charges against BP. More images can be found in the slide show below.
 Oil has already reached 127 miles of coastline in Louisiana. It is expected to reach the beaches in Pensacola Florida by this afternoon. The latest... |
A new under water plume of oil has been found as deep as 4000 feet to be 20 miles long and a mile wide. See this morning's coverage on ABC's Good Morning America from the Gulf Coast below.
Video Shows Cutting Pipe:
Oil Spill Counter Widget:See the amount of oil that has spilled into the Gulf of Mexico with this widget made available by PBS News.
This can be adjusted according to various reports of the oil spill rate.
For More Info:
James Cameron tapped to help stop the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Oil Spill charges (video): Obama administration launches criminal and civil probe
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 After the latest attempt at stopping the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico had failed with Operation Top Kill, BP is in a PR nightmare. An independent... |
MORE SLIDE SHOWS:
Oil from Gulf could reach Ocean City says University of Maryland professor
Impact and cleanup in Gulf of Mexico
NASA satellite video of Gulf Oil Spill; Updates on Top Kill, Live Stream video, Dead marine life
ABC's Good Morning America coverage on June 2nd
For more related stories:
Oil farther inland and clogging pelican habitats, US may kick out BP
Oil spill covers more birds and video shows tar balls washing up on Alabama beaches
Oil containment fails as tar balls reach Alabama coast (video and photos)
Oil spill forces NOAA to expand fishing closure in Gulf of Mexico
- BP CEO (video) discusses efforts to contain oil: See Cofferdam containment unit sent into Gulf
- Oil spill comes onshore in Louisiana (pictures)
- Oil spill forecast now part of a Florida TV weather report (video)
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