BP reports that the cost to date of fighting the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico amounts to $450m.
The oil giant says that a small dome or "top hat" has been taken out to the well site and placed on the seabed in preparation for deployment in a second attempt to cap the escape of oil.
The Group admits that such a system has never been used in water depths of 5,000 feet and its successful operation is not certain. The deployment of this system is expected to be attempted within the next few days.
At the the same time, BP is considering injecting material of varying densities and sizes (also known as "junk shot") into the internal spaces of the blow out preventer to provide a seal, before pumping specialised heavy fluids into the well to prevent further flow up the well.
Plans for this option are being developed in preparation for potential application next week.
Work on the first relief well, which began on Sunday May 2, continues. It is expected to take some three months to complete. The drilling rig that will drill the second relief well is currently en route to the site, expected to arrive by Friday.
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