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August 6, 2010

Sealing of Well Raises Questions Around BP’s Plans for Remaining Oil
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BP has finished pumping cement into its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well
ahead of a permanent blow-out operation later this month. National
Incident Commander Thad Allen said that no further oil will spill into
the Gulf until the final "bottom kill" operation seals the well.

Adm. Thad Allen: "The decision was made last night that the well is in a
proper condition where we could cement it. That would increase the
integrity of the well as far as a potential leak of hydrocarbons and
would actually enhance our ability to do the bottom kill. This is not
the end, but it will virtually assure us that there will be no chance of
oil leaking into the environment."

With the Gulf oil disaster entering a new phase, questions are emerging
around BP’s plans for the oil that remains beneath the well. There has
been speculation BP will try to sell off the reservoir or even resume
drilling at a future date to capture the estimated 1.9 billion gallons
that haven’t spewed into the Gulf. On Thursday, a BP spokesperson
declined to comment on the company’s plans for the well when asked by
the Associated Press.