BP delays attempt to stop Gulf oil spill

May 22, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

ROBERT, La.

It will be at least Tuesday before engineers can shoot mud into a blown-out well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, BP said Friday in yet another delay in the monthlong effort to stop the oil that is now washing into wetlands and onto at least one public beach.

A so-called “top kill” has been tried on land but never 5,000 feet underwater, so scientists and engineers have spent the past week preparing and taking measurements to make sure it will stop the oil that has been spewing into the sea for a month. They originally hoped to try it as early as this weekend.

BP spokesman Tom Mueller said there was no snag in the preparations, but that the company must get equipment in place and finish tests before the procedure can begin. BP already has three deepwater rigs and other equipment near the blown-out well.

“It’s taking time to get everything set up,” he said. “They’re taking their time. It’s never been done before. We’ve got to make sure everything is right.”

Crews will shoot heavy mud into a crippled piece of equipment atop the well.