The Associated Press estimates that when the flow was choked off, 184 million gallons of oil had poured into the Gulf in the 85 days since the well blew out.
Oil stopped gushing into the Gulf of Mexico for the first time in nearly three months, as BP tested the cap atop its well, a critical step toward sealing the well permanently.
"It’s a great sight but it’s far from the finish line," Doug Suttles, a senior BP executive, told reporters.
President Obama called the news a "positive sign" but cautioned, "We’re still in the testing phase." He said he would have more to say tomorrow.
Thursday 15 July, 2010 | Donna Willis
The Interior Department has told BP it must pay the 18.75% federal royalty on the millions of gallons of oil and natural gas it has collected or burned. And, if the government determines the company was negligent or broke rules in causing the spill, it will pay royalties on all the oil and gas that has gushed from the mile-deep Macondo well since the disaster began April 20.
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