BP begins slowly choking off oil flow

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In a potentially pivotal moment in the Gulf crisis, BP planned to begin closing valves Tuesday in a slow and methodical process that could finally choke off the geyser of crude at the bottom of the sea after three gloomy months and up to 180 million gallons spilled.

A new, tighter-fitting cap was lowered over the blown-out well Monday night. The next phase was to shut the openings in the 75-ton metal stack of pipes and valves gradually, one at a time, while watching pressure gauges to see if the cap would hold or any new leaks erupted.

The operation was expected to begin late Tuesday, and officials said it could last anywhere from six to 48 hours.

BP and the government's point man on the crisis — the biggest offshore oil spill in U.S. history and one of the nation's worst environmental disasters — stressed there were no guarantees, and they urged patience from Gulf residents.

“They ought to be interested and concerned, but if they hold their breath, they'll run out of oxygen,” retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen told The Associated Press.

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