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THE US Gulf coast was waiting on tenterhooks to find out if the Deepwater Horizon oil leak had finally been halted, as New Scientist went to press.
At 7 pm local time on Monday, BP . It hopes that this cap will be strong enough to seal the leak, at least until the relief wells that are being drilled start working next month.
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Top Hat has never been used at such depths and pressures before. BP began testing it on Tuesday to see if it could contain the oil, a process that could take up to 48 hours. As oil builds up under the cap the pressure should rise; if it does not, that will suggest oil is still leaking. In a statement BP said that 鈥渋ts efficiency and ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be assured鈥�.
鈥淎s oil builds up under the cap the pressure should rise; if it does not, that will suggest oil is still leaking鈥�
Meanwhile, the US government has in the Gulf of Mexico until 30 November.