BP Is Ready to Put Tighter Cap on Runaway Well
BP will begin replacing the cap on its runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico with a tighter-sealing one meant to collect more oil, the leader of the federal response effort said Friday.
The containment cap is currently collecting about 15,000 barrels of oil a day; another 8,000 to 10,000 barrels is being collected through pipes below the cap. The new cap is designed to capture all, or nearly all, of the oil spewing from well, estimated at 35,000 to 60,000 barrels a day. But Admiral Allen said that at the same time the cap is removed, a new system for collecting oil will become operational, which may reduce the amount spewing from the top of the well.
Translation: BP is getting ready to think about putting a little bit better temporary cap in place that may be a little bit more able to slow (not stop) the pace of the gusher at the bottom of the Gulf.