Cap reattached to Gulf oil gusher after accident

NEW ORLEANS - Oil had spewed uncontrolled into the Gulf of Mexico for much of the day yesterday before engineers reattached a cap used to contain the gusher to direct some of the crude to a surface ship.

The logistics coordinator aboard the Discoverer Enterpriser, the ship that has been siphoning the oil, told The Associated Press that after more than 10 hours, the system was again collecting the crude. The crew member, on the bridge of the ship, said the cap was placed back on the gusher around 8 p.m.

Later, BP confirmed the cap was back in place, saying it had been hooked up about an hour and half earlier. The coordinator said it would take a little time for the system to "get ramped back up."

Most recently, the system, in place since June 4, was sucking up about 29,000 gallons an hour, crude that spewed back into the Gulf yesterday unabated. At that rate, it could mean about 290,000 extra gallons escaped before the system restarted. Another ship was collecting a smaller amount of oil and burning it on the surface.

BP engineers had removed the cap after the mishap because fluid seemed to be leaking, creating a possible safety hazard because of the flames above, and they had been concerned ice-like crystals might clog it.

In Florida, meanwhile, pools of oil washed up along miles of national park and Pensacola Beach shoreline, and health advisories against swimming and fishing in the once-pristine waters were extended for 33 miles east from the Alabama border. - AP