Next BP Plan To Use Robots To Cut Leaking Pipe

By Eileen Fleming

New Orleans, La. – BP is no longer plunging heavy mud into the well. The gushing flow blasted out all 33,000 barrels of the material, and shooting debris into the well didn't work either. BP executive Doug Suttles says it's now getting robots ready to slice off a leaking pipe and fit a containment device to funnel oil to a surface ship.

"This operation should be able to capture most of the oil. I want to stress the word most because it's not a tight mechanical seal, but it should be able to capture most of the oil. This job should take approximately four days but it could take longer."

Suttles says chemical dispersants will be sprayed into the leak to break up oil that isn't contained.
For NPR News, I'm Eileen Fleming in New Orleans.