"Top kill" method "stops BP oil leak" in Gulf of Mexico
Page last updated at 13:49 GMT, Thursday, 27 May 2010 14:49 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10174861.stm
BP has stopped the flow of oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico from a ruptured oil well, US media reports say.
The company"s "top kill" effort has plugged the leak and "stabilised the wellhead", Coast Guard commander Thad Allen was quoted as saying by AFP.
This is the first step, using mud, in BP"s plan to seal the well for good with cement.
Eleven workers were killed in the initial explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig five weeks ago.
Since then millions of gallons of oil have poured into the sea.
Adm Allen told US media the "top kill" procedure, which began on Wednesday, has pumped enough drilling fluid to block all oil and gas escaping from the well.
But he said there was still pressure from the well, although at very low levels.
Once engineers have reduced the pressure to zero, they will begin pumping cement into the hole to seal the well, he added.
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
(#｀ω´)∩ 原油が流出している油井のBOP（噴出防止装置）の中に
高圧で泥水を送り込んで原油噴出を止める”トップキル作戦”が成功した。
これから次の段階として油井の中にセメントを送り込んで
原油の通り道のドリルパイプを詰まらせて閉鎖させる、云々。
なお”トップキル作戦”の解説アニメーションはこちら (#｀ω´) /
What is a "top kill"?
