Race against time in the Gulf of Mexico

Time may be running out to contain a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which is more serious than was originally thought. After discovering a third leak in the oil rig that exploded last week off the Louisiana coast, officials reported that five times as much oil (some 5,000 barrels worth per day) than was initially estimated. As tension mount between the BP PLC, the rig operator and the U.S. Coast Guard, efforts are underway to contain the spill before it reaches the fragile coast line. Among other methods, officials have been experimenting with test burns, to convert the slick into a hardened ball of tar that can be more easily removed. More than 100 workers escaped the blast, but 11 are still missing.

The Globe and Mail