HOUSTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. oil spill officials said on Sunday that integrity testing on the crippled BP Plc well in the Gulf of Mexico may be extended in 24-hour increments, according to a statement.
The 48-hour process described as a temporary measure to stop oil from gushing into the Gulf to allow engineers to study pressure within the well began on Thursday and was extended on Saturday for another 24 hours with additional monitoring and evaluation by scientists.
A BP <:BP.LO:>executive told reporters earlier Sunday the company hoped the runaway well could remain sealed until a pair of relief wells permanently stop the flow -- a fix scheduled for mid-August.
But retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said later on Sunday there was no change from his day-earlier statement that the test would eventually end, meaning a return to the oil-capture system involving ships on the surface.
He said the pressure test will continue until 4 p.m. EDT (9 p.m. BST) and then extended in 24 hour increments.
While pleased that no oil is being released into the gulf during the pressure test, Allen said more work was needed to understand the pressure readings.
"It is important that all decisions are driven by the science," Allen said in the statement.
The pressure test is designed to ensure that the BP well is intact and will not leak under the seabed if sealed shut.
(Reporting by Eileen O'Grady; Editing by Doina Chiacu )
