Oil spill to be controlled by containment dome

A containment dome is on its way to the oil spill site off the Gulf of Mexico, in an attempt to disperse oil away from the shore.

BP released details of the 100-ton steel containment dome to be placed at the spill site MC252, which it hopes will funnel oil away from the sea's surface. This follows events on April 20th when a rig BP was operating on exploded.

Speaking to the Associated Press, BP spokesman Bill Salvin said: "We have done extensive engineering and modelling and we believe this gives us the best chance to contain the oil, and that's very important to us."

The 40 x 24 x 12 ft steel containment dome left Port Fourchon, Louisiana, 50 miles from the oil spill site yesterday (May 5th) and is expected to be lowered onto the seabed today.

According to the news agency, the oil tanker has been releasing 210,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea each day and winds are expected to push the oil closer to the shore over the next few days.

BP estimates that it will take three months to contain the spill fully.

Posted by Lauren Steadman