能源巨头英国石油公司说，已经为海下漏油制造了一个巨大的钢盖。漏油正在污染墨西哥湾，对环境损害构成重大威胁。
英国石油公司星期一说，他们希望能在大约一个星期内把这个钢盖安置海底。英国石油公司发言人米勒说，官员们希望钢盖可能堵塞漏油，但这并不是永久性的解决办法。
在发现漏油几天后，路易斯安那州的钢铁工人开始建造这个近70吨重的钢盖。漏油发生在和钻井平台相连接的一个受到损害的油井。
从事墨西哥湾研究的哈特学院的报告显示，漏油可能伤害该地区每年价值16亿美元的经济活动，包括商业捕鱼、休闲垂钓和旅游业。
截至星期二，有170艘船只，近7500名工作人员参与清理工作，另外还有2000名志愿者协助。
Energy giant British Petroleum says it has finished building a massive steel cap for the undersea oil leak that is fouling the Gulf of Mexico and threatening major environmental damage.
BP officials said Monday they hope to have the cap in place on the sea floor in about a week. Company spokesman Tom Mueller says officials are hopeful the cap may stop the leak, but it is not a permanent solution.
Steel workers in Louisiana began building the nearly 70-ton cap in the days after the leak was discovered at the site of a damaged well that had been connected to an oil rig.
The Harte Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies reports the spill is threatening to damage the region's $1.6 billion dollars in annual economic activity, including commercial fishing, sport fishing and tourism.
As of Tuesday, 170 vessels, and nearly 7,500 personnel are involved in the cleanup efforts, with an additional 2,000 volunteers assisting.
