Drill rig, others, returning to spill site

Tropical Storm Bonnie has weakened into a tropical depression, so a drilling rig and a dozen other ships working to repair the busted oil well in the Gulf of Mexico are returning. Workers on Friday moved away from the projected path, but since then the threat has diminished. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, leader of the federal response, said Saturday it will take 24 to 36 hours to get the drilling ship back at the site, and at least a week before drilling can begin again. The well has been capped for more than a week. Vessels relaying video images and seismic readings from undersea robots monitoring the leaky well are still in place and may be able to stay. (Sources: New York Times, AP via Mobile Press-Register, 07/24/10)