Bad weather may delay work on BP relief well

A low-pressure system developing over the west coast of Florida could delay work on a BP Plc relief well that will permanently plug the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, retired Coast Guard admiral Thad Allen said Tuesday, dpa reported.

BP this week embarked on its final push to stop-up the leak. About 30 feet of drilling on the relief well remained, said Allen, who is overseeing the US government's response to the disaster.

The relief well, which is being drilled towards the leaking reservoir, was expected to finish its work Sunday by injecting cement near the bottom of the ruptured well.

But work on the relief well would now be delayed by 2-3 days as drilling operations were being suspended because of the impending storm. The drilling pipes would not be disconnected, Allen said, as gale force winds weren't expected.

The relief well's completion would permanently plug the worst oil spill in US history. About 4.9 million barrels of oil have spewed into the Gulf waters since April 20, washing up along the shores of four southern US states.

A seal has choked off the flow from the ruptured well since mid July, but does not provide the permanent solution expected from the relief well.