Officials hopeful for "top kill"

Officials remain hopeful the "top kill" procedure to stem the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico is working as planned, but they're not ready to declare success. Early Thursday Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said BP had stopped the flow of oil. But BP's chief operating officer later said petroleum was still flowing. Once it stops, cement will be pumped in to seal the well. (Source: Los Angeles Times, 05/27/10) In other oil-related events Thursday, an underwater oil plume was found by University of South Florida researchers, adding to fears much of the spill is beneath the surface. (Source: Washington Post, Associated Press, 05/27/10) Thirty-three exploratory rigs operating in deep water in the Gulf of Mexico were told they'll have to shut down pending a review; and the director of Minerals Management Service, S. Elizabeth Birnbaum, resigned. (Sources: Multiple, 05/27/10) The Deepwater Horizon exploded April 20, killing 11 workers. Since then, oil from the well has flowed into the Gulf of Mexico and efforts to contain it have been unsuccessful. The spill is now called the worst in U.S. history. Louisiana has been impacted the most so far, with oil washing into marshlands.