Test burns under way on oil slick

NEW ORLEANS, April 28 (UPI) -- Preparations were under way Wednesday to try to contain a massive oil slick in the Gulf by setting it afire, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

If the weather holds, the burning could begin Wednesday, Senior Chief Steve Carlton told the Houston Chronicle. CBS reported from New Orleans tests burns were under way.

Thousands of gallons of crude oil have been spilling into the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and sank last week about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast. Eleven of the more than 100 crew aboard the rig are missing and presumed dead.

With winds out of the northwest, Carlton said a controlled burn would be possible, with smoke blowing out to sea.

The oil slick is estimated at 600 miles in circumference and growing by 1,000 barrels a day. Late Tuesday, it was within 20 miles of Venice, La., the Coast Guard said.

The doomed oil rig belonged to Transocean, which had been drilling a well for British Petroleum.