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BP exec: Crews near killing the well

Doug Suttles, chief operating officer of BP Exploration and Production, talks to the press in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, June 18, 2010. Suttles was holdilng a press conference to announce that BP has purchased a centrifuge from Ocean Therapy, cofounded by actor Kevin Costner, that separates oil and water. UPI/A.J. Sisco..
Doug Suttles, chief operating officer of BP Exploration and Production, talks to the press in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, June 18, 2010. Suttles was holdilng a press conference to announce that BP has purchased a centrifuge from Ocean Therapy, cofounded by actor Kevin Costner, that separates oil and water. UPI/A.J. Sisco.. | License Photo

VENICE, La., July 29 (UPI) -- The first step toward permanently stopping the Gulf of Mexico oil spill may begin as soon as next week, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said Thursday.

"It's been thirteen days since we've had any new oil flow into the Gulf of Mexico," Suttles said on CBS's "Early Show." "But, ultimately, we've got to make sure this well can never flow again. And the first step along that path is actually this static kill, which we hope to actually pump at the beginning of next week."

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Despite the delay created by Tropical Storm Bonnie, "We're making good progress," Suttles said.

The Transoceanic Deepwater Horizon rig leased by BP exploded April 20, killing 11 workers, then collapsed two days later, spewing oil into the gulf.

Suttles said BP has received government approval to do the planning for the static kill and is working with government scientists.

Suttles said the 100th day of the spill is "a milestone none of us wanted ever to see."

Among the lessons learned, he said, was the industry's ability to fight a big spill and that handling a blowout at the bottom of the sea in deep water "is significantly different today than it was on (April 20)."

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"We've invented things. We've created things. We've invented new techniques to skim. We've applied techniques that's have never been done before," he said. "We've mounted the largest response the world's ever seen. And those lessons will be available to the industry (and) to the entire world to help if this were ever were to happen again."

He said BP and other oil companies recognize their responsibility to the Gulf region and the environment.

"(There) are so many things we have to do to make this thing right. ... And we've got to make sure the chances of this happening are extraordinarily remote," Suttles said. "But I would also tell you, if you -- if you're in this region, oil and gas activity in the Gulf of Mexico is hugely important to the people here. It supports a lot of the economy and the jobs. And we have to find a way to do both."

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