Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Capped

On Thursday July 15, 2010 the oil stopped flowing from the seabed in the Gulf of Mexico.

Several previous attempts have failed to arrest the gushing torrent of crude, but this attempt to cap the well appears to have succeeded, at least temporarily.

As of today, Friday July 16, the pressure inside the cap is manageable and there are no signs of new leaks. The plan is to contain the leak until the completion of a relief well. In the next few days, BP plans to resume drilling the relief well after tests on the new cap are completed.

For months, the world has been watching the environmental disaster unfold. During this time, more than 700 million liters of oil have leaked into the Gulf of Mexico.

Although much of the impact comes from the oil itself, efforts to manage the spill have also taken a toll. Dispersants used to reduce the size of the oil slick are having a profound impact on marine ecosystems.

A scientific survey of Louisiana's coastal oyster grounds indicate that they have also suffered extensive deaths. These deaths are attributable to the opening of release valves on the Mississippi River in an attempt to use fresh water to flush the oil out to sea.

The fishing industry in the Gulf has been decimated, ending livlihoods and a way of life that has endured for centuries. Although the catastrophic impacts may take years to fully assess, it is clear that the direct and indirect costs of this disaster are unacceptable.
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