UPDATE 8: Unified command continues to respond to Deepwater Horizon

ROBERT, La. - The unified command is implementing intervention efforts in an attempt to contain the source of oil emanating from the wellhead at the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site Sunday.

The unified command has approved a plan that utilizes submersible remote operated vehicles in an effort to activate the blowout preventer on the sea floor and to stop the flow of oil that has been estimated at leaking up to 1,000 barrels/42,000 gallons a day.

Also, BP is mobilizing the DD3, a drilling rig that is expected to arrive Monday to prepare for relief well-drilling operations.

Additionally, the oil recovery and clean-up operations are expected to resume once adverse weather has passed. These efforts are part of the federally approved oil spill contingency plan that is in place to respond to environmental incidents.

Many regulatory and technical experts are responding to the incident, which began Tuesday night after watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard District Eight command center received a report at of an explosion and fire aboard the MODU Deepwater Horizon, a semi-submersible drilling rig owned by Transocean and contracted by BP to drill for oil at the Mississippi Block 252 site, approximately 52 miles southeast of Venice, La. 

To date, approximately 1,143 barrels/48,000 gallons of oily-water mixture has been collected.

A collaborative investigation conducted by the Coast Guard and Minerals Management Service to determine the cause of the incident is in progress.

As the responsible party, BP is required to fund response and recovery costs. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is also available to fund costs if required.