By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-916069.mp3
New Orleans, La. – The first of two steps is called a static kill, which Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen says should begin Monday night or Tuesday morning.
"The static kill is not the end-all be-all. In fact kill' may even be a misnomer. What we're really doing is, we're going to be conducting a static test and see if the well can have mud pumped in at a very low rate."
He says if the mud doesn't trigger too much pressure in the well, it could push oil back into the underground reservoir. Officials should know in a matter of hours if it's working. Allen says if it goes according to plan, about a week later more mud will be pumped in the bottom through a relief well that's nearly finished.
For NPR News, I'm Eileen Fleming in New Orleans.