BP In Final Stages Of Killing Damaged Well

BP is one step closer in its efforts to finally kill the Macondo well that spewed millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The relief well was drilled 2.5 miles beneath the sea bed and has finally been connected with the damaged well, an effort that has been ongoing and delayed due to severe weather in the region.

“Through a combination of sensors embedded in the drilling equipment and sophisticated instrumentation … BP engineers and the federal science team have concluded that the Development Driller III relief well has intersected the Macondo well,” said Thad Allen, the appointed national incident commander, in a statement released late Thursday.

After having been intersected, the cementing of the bottom of the damaged Macondo well, likely to happen on Saturday, will bring to an end a nearly five-month battle for the big oil firm. BP’s focus will likely turn towards ensuring cleanup and compensation efforts run smoothly.