Gulf Oil Containment Stopped After Gas Detected; Oil Flow into Water Increases

According to the US Coast Guard, BP was forced to remove a containment cap that had been containing some of the oil currently gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. This has significantly increased the flow of oil entering the Gulf, resulting from the April 20th explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig.

Coast Guard Admin. Thad Allen indicated that an underwater robot had bumped into the venting system, which sent gas rising through the vent that carries warm water to prevent ice-like crystals from forming in the cap. The cap has been removed, and crews are now checking to see whether or not crystals have formed before they put it back on.

While that is going on, another system is burning oil on the surface of the water.

On a possibly related note, the Coast Guard reported two deaths on Wednesday. It is not immediately known whether they were related to the containment efforts.

At worst, it is currently estimated that 2.5 million gallons of oil is spewing into the Gulf of Mexico on a daily basis.