BP Has 24 Hours to Provide Answers About Oil Spill

Recently retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen has given BP managing director Bob Dudley 24 hours to provide answers to key questions about the BP oil spill before permission will be given for BP to proceed with its planned attempt to switch containment caps on the leaking well.

Although the current oil spill containment cap has been able to capture 26,000 barrels a day, the new cap BP has ready to go is predicted to capture up to 80,000 barrels a day. This would obviously make a much greater impact in controlling the already worst oil spill in U.S. history. The problem is that while the switching operation is in process, the rate at which the oil is gushing out of the ruptured BP well will increase. Admiral Allen wants to ensure BP has detailed plans in place to address any glitches.

BP does intend to have three containment ships at the site siphoning off oil while the caps are being changed. However, the current weather conditions have already adversely affected oil spill clean-up efforts. Allen wants further detailed information on exactly how BP plans to deal with the effects that a possible new hurricane will have during the containment cap switch as well as BP's plans for ongoing clean up of the oil spill.

If BP does not provide satisfactory answers to Allen’s questions, they will not be allowed to proceed with the containment cap change-out.