BP considers new method to repair damaged well in Gulf

The federal government’s oil disaster leader says BP can go ahead with a new method to try to permanently seal the damaged well. Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said the static kill would force mud into the well and push the oil back down into the reservoir. Allen said officials are continuing to monitor pressure within the well - to determine if such a procedure is possible.

Leaks have been discovered - even as far away as nearly two miles at another production site, but Allen said that authorities did not consider them “consequential.” Allen also said a weather system over the Caribbean could threaten work if it worsens in the next few days.

Meanwhile in Washington,  the House passed two bills in response to the BP oil disaster, one that would invest in technologies to ensure gas and oil drilling safety, the other – sponsored by California Representative Lynne Woolsey – would fund research and development to prevent and clean up oil spills.

Woolsey said California’s experiences with an oil spill four decades ago is evidence more money is needed for drilling safety research.

"Madame speaker, if we learned anything from the COSCO Busan spill it’s that we need to strengthen coordination and leadership of oil spill response leadership and development and everything we learned from the BP Gulf of Mexico disaster magnifies my concerns."

Also on Capitol Hill today, Kenneth Feinberg testified for the second time this week about the claims process for those affected by the BP oil disaster. Before the House Judiciary committee, he emphasized the independent nature of his position:

"Under the arrangement entered into between the Administration and BP I am designing and administrating an independent facility, I am beholden to neither the Administration nor BP, I'm really beholden to the people who live in the Gulf and who are in desperate straits and seek financial assistance from this facility."

Feinberg said the transition of claims from BP to this independent facility will go through in August. He credited BP with paying out some $200 million in claims - but said the independent facility will be better, quicker and more efficient.