FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Oil is no longer flowing freely into the Gulf of Mexico. The vents in BP’s capping stack were closed Thursday so well integrity tests could be conducted under pressure. The results of those tests are not yet known.

The test procedures include the disconnection of both the Q4000 and the Helix Producer collection ships, and the dispatch of more than 40 ocean skimmers and other assets to contain oil that might be allowed to escape during the process.

Federal officials have said that once tests are complete, the government will possess valuable data regarding both the condition of the well, along with an understanding of the capacity to shut in the well for brief periods if needed to prepare for a hurricane.

As soon as the tests are over, containment efforts will resume with the new capping stack and other equipment, with the potential to capture a combined 80,000 barrels per day.

Work will continue on the relief wells, one of which is expected to enable BP crews to permanently plug the flow of oil.

National Incident Commander Adm. Thad Allen issued a statement saying, “We’re encouraged by this development, but this isn’t over. Over the next several hours we will continue to collect data and work with the federal science team to analyze this information and perform additional seismic mapping runs in the hopes of gaining a better understanding on the condition of the well bore and options for temporary shut in of the well during a hurricane. It remains likely that we will return to the containment process using this new stacking cap connected to the risers to attempt to collect up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day until the relief well is completed.”

As news rippled through the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium around 2:30 p.m. Thursday that the cap was in place over the leaking oil well, cautious optimism was apparent even among the BP officials present.

“Getting the flow stopped is a massive milestone, but it’s far from the end,” said Doug Suttles, BP’s chief operating officer for exploration and production.

Suttles said pressure within the cap would be monitored in six-hour intervals for the next two days to determine if the integrity of the well has been compromised, but he reiterated the company’s long-term commitment to restoring the communities along the Gulf Coast regardless of the cap’s prognosis.

“I can’t take back what happened on April 20 … but we can affect what happens tomorrow,” Suttles said, announcing formally a $5 million grant award for the marine sciences lab housed on the barrier island.

“This $5 million grant is an important part of the process. It’s critical that we get started right now because we want to mitigate the impacts (of the spill) as soon as possible. We are going to be here as long as it takes to clean things

up and make things right,” Suttles said.

For the full story, pick up a copy of the July 17 Fairhope Courier.