AG's Scratchin' Post

[Alex G]

Allen: Oil leak stopped... at least for now

Dave Cohen Reporting

There is currently no oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico from the well that had been spewing crude into the sea for more than a month.

"They've stopped the hydrocarbons from coming up," National Incident Commander Thad Allen told WWL First News. "They've been able to stabilize the well head, they are pumping mud down it."

Listen to Allen:
http://www.wwl.com/Allen---Oil-leak-stopped----at-least-for-now/7337556

Allen says now they have to make sure the heavy drilling fluids, or mud, will hold back the oil and natural gas in the well long enough for them to be able to cap the well.

"The goal is to put enough mud down the well bore to the point where there is no pressure exerted back by the hydrocarbons and then allow a cement plug to be put in place."

The Coast Guard admiral says when they feel things are stable enough, engineers will try to inject the cement into the equipment on top of the well and seal it off.