BP PLC (BP.LN) said Monday that at the MC252 oil well incident in the Gulf of Mexico, subsea efforts continue to focus on two fronts: first, reducing the flow of oil spilled by physical containment and second, further work on stopping the flow using a "top kill" option.

MAIN FACTS:

-The cost to date of the response amounts to about $350 million, including the cost of spill response, containment, relief well drilling, commitments to the Gulf Coast States, settlements and federal costs.

-The containment dome that was deployed last week has been parked away from the spill area on the sea bed.

-Efforts to place it over the main leak point were suspended at the weekend as a build up of hydrates prevented a successful placement of the dome over the spill area.

-A second, smaller containment dome is being readied to lower over the main leak point.

-The small dome will be connected by drill pipe and riser lines to a drill ship on the surface to collect and treat oil.

-It is designed to mitigate the formation of large hydrate volumes.

-This operation has never been done before in 5,000 feet of water.

-In addition, further work on the blow out preventer has positioned the company to attempt a "top kill" option aimed at stopping the flow of oil from the well.

-This option will be pursued in parallel with the smaller containment dome over the next two weeks.

-All of the techniques being attempted or evaluated to contain the flow of oil on the seabed involve significant uncertainties because they have not been tested in these conditions before.

-Work on the first relief well, which began on Sunday May 2, continues. It is expected to take some three months to complete.

-Work continues to collect and disperse oil that has reached the surface of the sea.

-More than 275 vessels are being used, including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels.

-Shares closed Friday at 533.9 pence.

-By Iain Packham, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9269; iain.packham@dowjones.com

 
 
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