Thanks to much scrutiny and cautiousness, the oil cap that was placed on the ruptured BP well has managed to keep the oil back from the Gulf of Mexico. BP was optimistic after the first 24 hours of tests proved that the well thought out experiment was indeed working.
This has been the first time that the oil company has been able to curb the oil from seeping through to the Gulf, endangering wildlife and playing havoc with the environment, ever since the oil started flowing in April.
BP senior vice president Kent Wells told reporters:"We haven't seen any indication... that would indicate that we have got any oil or gas escaping from the well."
Upon receiving news that the cap was holding up and withstanding the pressure of oil bubbling underneath, US President Barack Obama addressed his people from Washington DC and said the halt to the oil flow was "good news," but warned that: "It is important that we don't get ahead of ourselves." He has urged everyone to remain positive.
“One of the problems with having this camera down there is, is that when the oil stops gushing, everybody feels like we're done - and we're not," Obama added.
This has been the worst United States oil spill in history and the residents of the region are relieved that it might be coming to an end as their lives have been ravaged by this occurrence, the economy has plunged as tourists have avoided Gulf Coast beaches and fishing grounds are closed. BP has agreed to set up a 20-billion-dollar fund to pay damages which will come in handy with the long clean-up process ahead.
Although no oil has escaped the new cap sealing the well so far, pressure testing is still ongoing to ensure that no ruptures occur undetected.
The new cap was placed on Thursday to stop the flow for the first time since 20 April, as part of a 48-hour test of the well's integrity.
A permanent end to the spill is not expected before mid-August, when two relief wells should make it posible for BP to fill the ruptured well with cement which should stop the oil from flowing up.
