BP prolongs test on oil well in Mexico Gulf

The new containment capping stack on the blown-out oil well in the Gulf of Mexico is seen during the well integrity test in this video grab from the BP's live feed on July 17, 2010. The U.S. government and BP have agreed to allow the well integrity test to continue another 24 hours, according to a statement by National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen. (Xinhua/BP Live Feed)

BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhuanet) -- British energy giant BP Plc decided to extend for another day of an integrity test of its leaking Gulf of Mexico well which has been under control by a new containment cap, according to Reuters reports on Sunday.

BP cut off the oil spill on Thursday with a new, tight-fitting containment cap installed atop the well a mile under the ocean surface.

The massive oil spill, triggered by the April 20 offshore rig explosion that killed 11 workers, has caused an economic and environmental disaster along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

"As we continue to see success in the temporary halt of oil from the leak, the U.S. government and BP have agreed to allow the well integrity test to continue another 24 hours," retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the U.S. government's point man on the spill, said in a statement.

Kent Wells, BP senior vice president of exploration and production, added that "we're feeling more comfortable that we have integrity" in the well.

The ongoing test is intended to show whether the April explosion damaged the piping and cement inside the well, which could allow oil and gas to leak out the sides and seep up through the seabed.

It had lasted two days and end Saturday. Allen's statement indicates it will continue through Sunday afternoon.

President Barack Obama called on Saturday that the apparent success of BP's efforts to cap its ruptured Gulf of Mexico well good news, but underscored that the problem would not be resolved until relief wells had been completed.

(Agencies)

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