Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico | Recent and Historical Incidents | Emergency Response | NOAA's National Ocean Service Office of Response a

Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico | Recent and Historical Incidents | Emergency Response | NOAA's National Ocean Service Office of Response and Restoration: "While Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) continue to work on triggering the blowout preventer (a series of valves that sits at the well head) to contain the leak, other rigs are en route in case relief wells are needed. An underwater oil collection device that would trap escaping oil near the seafloor and funnel it for collection is being designed and fabricated. Collection devices have been used successfully in shallower water but never at this depth (approx. 5000ft). Efforts are now focused on: gathering more information about the spill (amount, fate and effects), plans for possible undersea containment, drilling relief wells, maximizing oil recovery and readying for shoreline assessments. Natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) activities are now underway."