NEW ORLEANS – BP plans to bring in an oil-burning device and a tanker from the North Sea as it tries to contain the crude spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, a disaster creating headaches for people who make their money off the sea and those processing their claims of financial loss.
The current oil containment system is catching 630 000 gallons daily, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said at a news briefing in Washington. Officials had previously cited that figure as the system’s general capacity, but Allen said officials now believe it can handle 756 000 gallons daily.
Even so, there’s still more oil eluding capture. BP is bringing in a second vessel that will increase capacity, as well as the North Sea shuttle tanker, which will assist in the transport of the oil, and a device that will burn off some of it. The company previously said it planned to switch out the current containment cap with a slightly larger one that will seal better and trap more oil. (AP)
