Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Justine Rellosa- Talk Radio News Service

Admiral Thad Allen, the National Incident Commander for the Deepwater BP oil response, said during a press briefing Tuesday that the failure of the 'top kill' method this past weekend has altered the response strategy's focus from capping the ongoing spill to simply containing the oil.

Currently, the response team is starting a new procedure to cut the top of the well's lower marine riser pipe and attach a cap to it that would then pump the leaking oil to a ship. During this period, Allen stated that a 20 percent increase in oil output could occur, making it a very risky procedure.

The method of containing the oil is a step to mitigate the crisis until a set of relief wells are constructed in August that could offer a permanent shut-off of the spill.

The Commander said that they were also looking to foreign governments for assistance and equipment needed to quell the disaster.

"We're actually reaching out to folks like the Netherlands, Canada and Mexico as sources of supplies."