In a statement US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said the placement of the cap was a ’positive development in BP’s most recent attempt to contain the leak, however, it will 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’.
He added: ’Even if successful, this is only a temporary and partial fix and we must continue our aggressive response operations at the source, on the surface and along the Gulf’s precious coastline.’
The cap was lowered into place late on 3 June after remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) managed to cut through the damaged riser at the top of the rig’s failed blow-out preventer (BOP).
BP had resorted to using shears to cut the pipe after a diamond saw wielded by one ROV became stuck.
Now the containment cap has been placed, BP hopes to pipe the leaking oil to a drillship on the surface 5,000ft above.
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