BP's top kill fails

BP says the "top kill" method to stop the leak in the Gulf of Mexico has failed. The company tried for three days to stop the flow of oil by pumping heavy drilling mud into the leak, but most escaped from the riser. The company will now try a "lower marine riser package" that won't plug the well but instead capture most of the oil on the sea floor and channel it to the surface for collection. It will take four days to put in place. The rig exploded April 20, killing 11 workers. Oil has leaked into the Gulf of Mexico since then, and each effort to stop the flow has failed. It's now the worst spill in U.S. history. (Source: Multiple, including AP via Sun Herald, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, 05/29/10)