The following is a summary of resources being deployed in the wake of the oil spill from a sunken rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Nearly 2,000 personnel are involved, with additional resources being mobilized as needed, officials said.
Stemming the flowFour robotic underwater vehicles have been working to shut off the flow after the failure of a safety valve 1,500 metres below the surface. Three leaks have been detected, spewing an estimated 800,000 litres of oil a day.
Containing the spillEngineers are constructing a giant dome that could be placed over leaks to trap oil, allowing it to be pumped up to container ships on the surface. Expected time: two to four weeks.
Relief wellBP and partner Transocean are seeking to drill a "relief well" to ease pressure and eventually inject material to cap the leaking well. Expected time: two to three months.
BoatsAt least 75 boats - including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels - have been deployed, in operations that have collected 3.2 million litres of oily water. Crews have used 530,000 litres of chemical dispersant.
FiresA controlled burn operation aimed at consuming some of the oil was carried out Wednesday, but stormy weather and rough seas stopped further operations.
BarriersMore than 65 kilometres of boom has been deployed to contain the spill. Additional booming is available, but is unlikely to be enough to contain the huge slick, especially in rough weather.
On landThe White House said 1,178 people have been mobilized to protect coastal areas.
In the airThe U.S. military mobilized equipment and planes armed with chemical spray gear to help disperse the slick.
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