Offshore Oil Drilling | featured news

Gov't scientists now estimate nearly 5 million barrels of oil have leaked into the Gulf since April, easily topping Mexico's 1979 spill of 3.3 million barrels | DAY 105Questions on Dispersants |

One hundred days after an oil well operated by BP ruptured in the Gulf of Mexico, the man overseeing the federal response is optimistic that steps planned for the coming days will finally, permanently seal the well.

Up to 4 million barrels (167 million gallons), the vast majority of the spill, remains unaccounted for in government statistics. Some of it has, most likely, been cleaned up by nature. Other amounts may be gone from the water, but they could have taken on a second life as contaminants in the air, or in landfills around the Gulf Coast.

Spill from blowout is degrading rapidly in warm waters, becoming tougher to find, director says.

BP is set to begin drilling off Libya amid safety concerns over the Gulf of Mexico spill and accusations over the Lockerbie bomber.

China and environmental observers said cleanup efforts on the country's largest reported oil spill were progressing Thursday, but the environmental and economic damage was clear.

Drilling continued despite a leak on a critical safety device, a company official told investigators.

Engineers fighting the Gulf oil spill are confident that the cap over the well is strong enough that they may be able to plug it up soon.

One of China's biggest ports shut Monday after a pipeline explosion triggered a major offshore oil spill.

Despite concerns about problems on the seafloor near the well, government officials on Monday said they would allow the pressure test to continue.