Gusher stops; BP might still have to siphon oil Testing blocks leak completely, but don't be surprised if oil flows again

Gusher stops; BP might still have to siphon oil

Testing blocks leak completely, but don't be surprised if oil flows again

Transcript of: Pressure builds in pivotal moment for BP

Advertisement | ad info

BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor: It may be temporary, it may not hold, but we want to show you something that, for a long while here, it didn't seem like we were ever going to see. Right now, there is no oil spilling into the gulf. For now, the cap is on and working. No new billowing oil beyond, of course, the three-month supply already in the gulf waters and on the shores and in the marshes. They are testing the pressure now. This stoppage may not last. It's not a permanent solution. That can only come from those relief wells. But now we're able to visualize, at least, the day we have been hoping would arrive. We want to begin again tonight with our chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson , in Venice , Louisiana . Anne , good evening.

ANNE THOMPSON reporting: Good evening, Brian . You know, even though this is the day that the people here along the gulf have waited some three months for, reaction is muted tonight because people here are hoping that it's when this test stops that the oil is still not flowing. On day 87, the oil stopped, if only temporarily. BP closed all the valves on its new ceiling cap at 3:25 Eastern time this afternoon, at last giving a moment's relief to so many people along the Gulf Coast devastated economically and emotionally by this spill.

Unidentified Man: It's finally an end to the Groundhog Day of waking up and it being the same and oil still spilling.

Unidentified Woman: We're just happy. Finally there's an end in sight. There's finally a light at the end of a tunnel.

THOMPSON: But BP isn't celebrating just yet.

Mr. DOUG SUTTLES (BP Chief Operating Officer): We have to manage our expectations. It's possible, if the -- if the pressures are low that we'll have to re-initiate the flow and capture it.

THOMPSON: At the White House , President Obama was every bit as cautious.

President BARACK OBAMA: I think it is a positive sign. We're still in the testing phase. I'll have more to say about it tomorrow.

THOMPSON: The well integrity test will take two days, and all eyes will be on the pressure levels. Engineers and scientists in the Houston command center will monitor those readings, hoping to divine what they cannot see under the seabed.

Mr. DON VAN NIEUWENHUISE (University of Houston): I think it's important to know whether the well has leaks or not. And it could be an important issue for them to watch while they're doing the kill operation itself.

THOMPSON: The kill operation with the relief well, the permanent solution, is still weeks away. Standing on one of the new sand berms built to block the oil, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said the cleanup doesn't stop just because the oil did.

Governor BOBBY JINDAL (Republican, Louisiana): This is a very, very -- potentially a very important step forward, if they're successful. But we also know this fight's not over for Louisiana . We know this is a marathon.

THOMPSON: Everyone involved realizes this may only be a pause in this disaster.

Admiral THAD ALLEN, Retired (National Incident Commander): Make no mistake, the number one goal is to shut in the well and kill it and stop it at the source. This is merely an intermediate step to contain the oil pending the finishing the relief wells and plugging the hole.

THOMPSON: Now, every six hours BP and government officials will assess those test results and decide whether or not to move forward. This is going to be a very slow and deliberate process. Brian :

WILLIAMS: For however long it's shut off, Anne , we'll take it. Anne Thompson in Venice , Louisiana , again tonight. Thanks.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38255728/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf/