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[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/US/08/04/gulf.oil.spill/t1main.bp.jpg caption= "A long-awaited procedure to permanently seal BP's crippled well in the Gulf of Mexico appears to be working, the oil giant announced early Wednesday"]
'Static kill' appears to be working, BP says
(CNN) – A long-awaited procedure to permanently seal BP's crippled well in the Gulf of Mexico appears to be working and is being monitored, the oil giant announced early Wednesday.
The well-killing procedure, which began Tuesday afternoon, involves pumping heavy drilling mud down from above to push oil back into the well reservoir.
"The well pressure is now being controlled by the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling mud, the desired outcome of the static kill procedure," a BP statement said. "The pumping of heavy drilling mud was stopped after about eight hours of pumping drilling mud down the well. The well is now being monitored, per the procedure, to ensure the well remains static."
BP said it will continue work on a relief well.
The static kill is the biggest development in the long-running saga involving BP's well since a tightly fitting cap was placed on it in mid-July, stopping oil from flowing into the Gulf for the first time in almost three months.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill Wednesday, a joint Senate hearing will focus on the use of dispersants in Gulf.
The Environmental Protection Agency is likely to face questions about its finding that eight dispersants, including one used in combating the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, are no more toxic when mixed with oil than the oil alone. Read more
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