BP's newest attempt at capping the oil leak

Here's a great article about BP's newest strategy, which included cutting a ruptured pipe from the Blowout Preventer and subsequently placing a "Lower Marine Riser Package" (LMRP) cap on top of the site of the spill in order to 1) contain the leak and 2) capture some of the oil and gas by allowing them to flow up through a pipe attached to the cap, finding their way to a ship above.

Article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10233891.stm

"In the first phase of the latest effort to contain the spill, robots cut a leaking pipe.

BP then used giant shears manipulated by undersea robots to snip off the end of the pipe, after a diamond-edged saw failed to do the job.

A funnel-like cap has been placed on top, which if successful, would improve oil recovery and BP would hope to collect the oil on a surface ship above the well.

The US Coast Guard said the placement of the cap was a positive development, but that it would be 'some time before we can confirm that this method will work and to what extent it will mitigate the release of oil into the environment.'"



The process of cutting the damaged pipe:



and it being removed...



and oil being siphoned from the leak site.



The "LMRP" is said to be a temporary solution, the results of which should be known later today. BP has said it does not expect to be able to fully halt the oil flow until August, when two relief wells will be completed.