BP Efforts to Permanently Stop Oil Flow May Be Delayed by Tropical Storm

Although people are ready for this oil spill problem to be done with for good, it seems that efforts to finally stop it permanently could be delayed. This is due to the fact that the Gulf of Mexico, where the BP Deepwater Horizon rig is located, is expecting to be hit by Tropical Storm Bonnie.

This storm, which has already caused widespread flooding in places like Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, is moving north west over the Bahamas. It is expected to reach the BP site soon. However, some experts say that there is some good news about the tropical storm. They say that it stands a chance of breaking up some of the oil crud that is on the water’s surface.

As a result of this, ships that are going to be involved in the operation to stop the flow of the oil into the Gulf have been forced to leave the area. They will not be able to return until the area is deemed safe again.

Although BP, which is a British oil giant, has temporarily plugged the oil well, a permanent end to the crisis can only be achieved when a relief well is drilled at the site. The operation to drill this new well has been postponed. Vessels in the area started to evacuate over the weekend, according to incident commander Admiral Thad Allen. He went on to add that this includes the rig drilling the relief well.

As of right now, the other well has been sealed for the past eight days or more. This happened after a temporary cap was placed on the oil rig.