Crews Remove Plug in Gulf

Josh Pringle
Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Crews have taken another step towards preparing the relief well for a procedure that is expected to finally kill the oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico.

Federal officials say the plug that had been popped into the relief well before last week’s tropical storm has been removed as crews move closer to a permanent fix.

It’s been 100 days since a rig explosion triggered the worst offshore oil spill in US history.

Crews are finishing the relief well that will plug up the gusher from below.

Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen says now that the plug is out, the relief well must be flushed out with drilling mud before casing can be dropped in and cemented.

Allen says all that should be done around Monday.