By COLLEEN LONG and HARRY R. WEBER
Associated Press Writers
NEW ORLEANS – A trial run of a cap that was blocking oil from streaming into the Gulf of Mexico was extended after the government’s point man on the cleanup said BP will continue to monitor the cap for another 24 hours.
The clock expired Saturday on BP’s 48-hour observation period and the government added another day of critical monitoring. Scientists and engineers were optimistic that the well showed no obvious signs of leaks, but were still struggling to understand puzzling data emerging from the bottom of the sea.
It’s possible the past three days will be only a brief reprieve from the flow of oil bleeding into the Gulf. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen decided Saturday that after the testing was complete the well would be hooked up again to ships on the surface to contain the oil.