The loose-fitting and relatively leaky containment cap that BP placed over its gushing Deepwater Horizon well in the Gulf of Mexico back in early April is set to be removed as early as Saturday. The dislodging of the cap will mean that oil will gush out nearly unimpeded — but within three days, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen says BP should be able to fit a new, more effective cap onto the sliced pipe. For those three days, anywhere between an estimated 25,000 and 50,000 barrels could be set loose into the sea each 24-hour period. However, the new cap is seen to be a much preferable solution for the long term.
