BP steps up efforts to keep oil out of Gulf

BP has announced its intentions to keep as much oil as possible out of the Gulf of Mexico by improving its containment strategy.

Yesterday (May 31st), the oil giant released plans to enhance the lower marine riser package (LMRP), which will be put in place this week to try to limit the damage done to the marine area.

BP chief executive Tony Hayward said: "BP's priority is to keep as much oil as we can from causing additional harm to the Gulf, the shoreline and the people of the region."

Later this week, the LMRP containment cap will be placed on the leak, which began after an oil rig BP was operating on exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20th.

The purpose of the additional devices is to increase the amount of oil and gas that can be captured from the well and improve the efficiency of the containment operation.

In an attempt to contain the spill, BP has employed over 1,600 vessels and 321,000 barrels (13.5 million gallons) of oil liquid have already been recovered.

Posted by Lauren Steadman.