BP adds new cap to Gulf oil well but will it kill the spill?

BP has successfully added a larger, tighter fitting containment cap named “Top Hat 10″ to the Gulf oil well in an attempt to fully contain the oil spill but will it really kill the spill?

We will have to wait and see as BP is due to start tests later today, gradually shutting valves on the new containment cap to see if this stops the oil leaking from the well, or starts oil leaking from another part of the well. BP plans to perform “integrity tests” lasting between six and 48 hours.

Stopping the BP Oil Spill for Good

The company has warned that the cap system had never been deployed at such depths, and said “It is expected, although cannot be assured, that no oil will be released to the ocean for the duration of the test. This will not, however, be an indication that flow from the wellbore has been permanently stopped.”

BP said it does not expect to plug the undersea geyser permanently before the middle of next month, after intercepting the rupture point with one of two oil relief wells now being drilled.

The new cap is capable of collecting more than 50,000 barrels a day from the spill and is apparently resilient to the power of the Gulf’s hurricane season.

The US government and BP are due to decide by Thursday whether the valve can stay in place to seal the well shut.