BP: Maybe kinda sorta we can have it plugged by August

[marmar]

BP pursues next remedy after 'top kill' failure
Obama administration aides say leak may persist until August

By Greg Robb, MarketWatch


WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- BP's engineer have begun another effort to stem the flow of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, as government and company officials acknowledged that it might not be possible to completely block the leaky well until August.

BP is preparing to cut a damaged pipe in the hope it will be easier to put a new, smaller, dome on top of a clean break. The dome would feature a pipe to pump oil from the pipe up to a ship.

The new plan is risky. BP officials acknowledge that cutting the pipe could increase the flow of oil into the Gulf in the short term.

"We're not certain ... how much will go up the pipe and how much may escape around the edges," Chief Executive Tony Hayward told Fox News.

White House officials were cautious not to raise hopes for a solution. "It is possible we will have oil leaking from this well until August, when the relief wells will be finished," Carol Browner, the White House energy adviser, said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bp-pursues-next-remedy-after-top-kill-failure-2010-05-31

[dipsydoodle]

1. Its a shame really

that the aggregate amount of cynicism on this subject can't be used to plug the hole.