New cap placed over Gulf oil spill - will it work? (photos)

A new cap is now almost in place over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It will be two days before its success can be determined.

By Andy Smith, Contributor on July 13, 2010

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Workers prepare to lower a new cap that will hopefully stop or at least slow down oil leaking from the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico. As of 7:00 AM PT on Tuesday, the cap has been placed over the spill and workers are attempting to put it into place. BP is currently testing the plug and says it will know in two days how successful it will be.

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Although there were some reports that the leak had stopped, live images on Tuesday morning showed they were premature.

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Here's a shot of the cap as it is in place.

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Workmen get the cap ready for deployment.

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Latest NASA photos show the extent of the spill.

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NOAA shows the reach of the spill on the Gulf of Mexico. The spill location is marked in white.

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