Robots Start Work on BP (NYSE:BP) Containment Cap

If BP (NYSE:BP) can successfully put a new containment cap on the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico using underwater robots, they should be able to contain the vast majority of oil spilling into the region.

The robot submarines will take off the old cap and replace with the new, or at least attempt to. There are a number of backup caps to put back on if the attempt fails.

The new cap will fit tighter and keep almost all of the oil from leaking, and would result in capturing up to 80,000 barrels a day, including a new vessel which would be attached to another part of the leak.

"This new sealing cap has not been deployed at these depths or under these conditions, and there can be no assurance that the sealing cap will be successfully installed or installed within the anticipated timeframe," BP said in a statement.

If successful, it will effectively stop the leaking oil well, while waiting for the relief wells to be put into effect, which will be the permanent solution to the leak.