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Storms Delaying BP's Permanent Kill Of Blown-out Well

By Eileen Fleming

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-917854.mp3

New Orleans, La. – The system is prompting BP to delay the drilling for up to three days. Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen says the response team is being extra careful while the relief well is about 30 feet away from its target under the sea floor. It's expected to intersect the broken well next week, then kill the line with mud and cement. The massive drilling rig is staying in the area. Allen says it's designed to withstand wind and waves much worse than what's forecast. The site was cleared last month ahead of Tropical Storm Bonnie. Allen says the relief well should be able to quickly return to work when the storm subsides. More testing is under way to fine-tune plans of plugging the broken well from the bottom.
For NPR News, I'm Eileen Fleming in New Orleans.

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