BP Oil Leak 2010 Update May 11: Top Hat Cap, Photos

The BP Oil Leak Continues in the Gulf of Mexico and Now BP is Attempting to Use a 'Top-Hat' to Cap the Oil Spill

A 'top-hat' type box is now being used to try and cap the huge oil leak still gushing out of the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This second device comes after the first attempt to cap the leak failed and this 'top-hat' design is a streamlined version.

• Gulf Oil Spill Testimony
• Gulf Oil Spill Lawsuit
• Gulf Oil Spill: Halliburton Cementing Issue
• Gulf Oil Spill, Rank Among Top 10

The crews were adding the final touches to the box on Wednesday, which is now located about one mile down on the sea bed according to the AFP.

Photos

BP Oil Spill May 11 | Photo 02

see larger image

uploaded by Getty Images

• 

  uploaded by Getty Images | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Getty Images | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Getty Images | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Getty Images | add comment

The oil is still gushing out of the rig, which exploded on April 20 and has reached the Louisiana shoreline affecting wildlife, residents and the seafood industry.

After the failure of the previous dome, BP executives hope that this version will stop the ice crystals from forming inside, which is what prevented the first one from working.

The failure of the oil companies to stop the oil after three weeks has angered residents and officials and the Obama administration is seeking to raise the taxes oil companies have to pay for operations such as this one, where so much damage and clean-up is involved.

So far the three oil companies have only managed to blame each other for the spill and the cause of the explosion is still unknown. There may be talk however that a safety device on the rig had a leak in it before the rig exploded.

If the leak is not plugged before hurricane season begins the results of the spill could be even more disastrous as the water will only become churned and blown on to the shore.