Will mud stop the stream of oil in Gulf of Mexico? by Zuzana Zelenakova

Millions of gallons of crude oil have been spilled into the waters of Gulf of Mexico from a sea floor gusher following the explosion on the drilling platform Deepwater Horizon on 20 April. 11 platform workers were killed in an accident and 17 others were injured. The oil slick covers an area of at least 6,500 km². British Petroleum, one of the biggest companies in the world, is held responsible for the disaster and is handling the clean-up efforts. Now BP has launched an operation called “top kill”, which involves mud being pumped into the gusher. If this procedure proves successful and restricts the stream of oil the well, the company would eventually sea! l it cement. About 7 million gallons of crude oil have been spilled into Gulf of Mexico so far and are endangering more than 400 animal species living in the islands and marshlands. Apart from wildlife, also tourism industry is at stake. The BP officials estimate that chances for the success of “top kill” technique are at 60 to 70 percent. The thing is it was used only above ground until now, not 5,000 feet beneath the sea. As to the reasons behind the catastrophe, number of statements from witnesses has been collected by the Associated Press and they point to an equipment failure and a somewhat slow reaction or cracks within the system of command. "I overheard upper management talking saying that BP was taking shortcuts by displacing the well with saltwater instead of mud without sealing the well with cement plugs, this is why it blew out," read a statement from Transocean rig worker to the Coast Guard. President Barack Obama has called the oil spill a “h! eartbreaking” disaster and pledged not to “rest un! til this well is shut, the environment is repaired and the cleanup is complete.”

related story (sgx17400): http://www.france24.com/en/20100526-bp-prepares-plan-top-kil...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

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