Trouble on oiled waters

On Tuesday April 20th, a fire followed by an explosion and now an oil leak occurred in the Gulf of Mexico on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. It is located 41 miles off the Louisiana coast. 11 of the 126 workers were missing but the search was called off when the rig sank. Oil is releasing into the sea at a rate of 42,000 gallons, equivalent to 1,000 barrels a day. The oil slick measured 80 miles across and 42 miles lengthwise by Monday, with the western part only 36 miles from the coast of Louisiana. BP's technicians plan to activate the blow-out preventer, a huge valve that is operated by robot submarines but the weather has turned the water rough and needs to be more calm before this can take place. If this does not work, BP could drill another well to release pressure which could take months to do so they may plan to lower a massive dome over the site instead that will suck oil into vessels that can safely dispose it.