Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Obama: Long Battle to Stop Gulf Oil Leak Coming to an End

   VOA News 04 August 2010
   President Barack Obama

Photo: AP

   President Barack Obama

   U.S.  President Barack Obama says the long battle to stop the oil leak
   in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and contain the oil is finally coming to an
   end.  Â
   Mr.  Obama  on  Wednesday welcomed the news that the latest efforts to
   plug the well appear to be working.
   He  said  government  scientists  say  the vast majority of oil in the
   water  is  gone.   Mr. Obama also said recovery efforts will continue
   and that his government will hold the polluters accountable. Â
   White  House  Energy  Adviser  Carol  Browner  said on U.S. television
   Wednesday  that  a new government study shows that about 75 percent of
   the oil spilled into the Gulf has been collected, burned off or broken
   down by natural forces.
   Earlier,  oil company [1]BP said the so-called "static kill" operation
   initiated  Tuesday has been successful. The operation involves pumping
   heavy  mud  into  the well, and eventually sealing it permanently with
   cement.
   BP  said  after  eight hours of pumping mud into the well, the mud was
   controlling  pressure  inside the well - which BP said was the desired
   outcome.   It said pumping has stopped and experts are monitoring the
   well to see whether more mud is needed.
   The  company  said  it  will  work  with the government's oil response
   chief,  retired  Coast  Guard Admiral Thad Allen, to decide whether to
   follow up the mud with an injection of cement through the same route.
   A  temporary  cap  stopped  the leak in mid-July. A 5,500-meter relief
   well  is  expected to be used later this month to permanently seal the
   well with mud and cement.
   U.S.  scientists  estimate  nearly  five million barrels of oil leaked
   from the damaged well, making it the largest accidental release of oil
   into the sea in history.
   The  leak  has  caused  environmental and economic damage in the Gulf,
   angering  residents  and  creating hardship for people who rely on the
   waters for their livelihoods.
   BP  is  facing about $30 billion in cleanup costs. The company says it
   will  sell  its  Colombian  business  to  a  consortium  of Ecopetrol,
   Colombia's national oil company, and the Canadian company Talisman for
   $1.9 billion.

References

   1. http://www.bp.com/bodycopyarticle.do?categoryId=1&contentId=7052055

.