Storm 'Bonnie' threatens to halt work in the Gulf

After moving across Florida on Friday, Tropical Storm Bonnie weakened to a tropical depression. However, there is a possibility that it strengthens and brings in its wake heavy rain to the spill area by Saturday afternoon.

"Bonnie could regain tropical storm strength as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico," the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Shift towards a safe place
The positive side is that forecasters aver there is practically no chance that Bonnie becomes a hurricane before its make landfall anywhere between the Louisiana coast and Florida's northwest Panhandle.

Ships responsible for assimilation of seismic and auditory data on the capped well as well as the underwater robots that supply a live feed of the wellhead would be the last to leave the site.

The climatic conditions prompted the response vessels at BP's ruptured well site to move to a safe place. Eight hundred skimmers that have been assiduously collecting oil from the surface across the Gulf Coast will also return to the shore.

The Q4000 recovery vessel was also scheduled to be fully disconnected by late Friday afternoon.

"The intention right now is to put the vessels in a safe place so they can return as quickly as possible," said retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, head of the federal response team.

Ships responsible for assimilation of seismic and auditory data on the capped well as well as the underwater robots that supply a live feed of the wellhead would be the last to leave the site.

"If we have to evacuate the scene we're probably looking at a very limited window -- probably 48 hours," noted Allen.

Allen divulged the "good and bad part" of the tropical storm as well.

Permanent fix likely to be delayed
While he confessed that that a storm could wreak havoc by way of taking the oil into beach and marsh areas, it may even "actually help" disperse the oil.

"So we're mindful that those are two consequences and prepared to move out and aggressively attack this once the threat is passed through. But in (the) meantime, preservation of life and preservation of equipment are our highest priority," Allen said.

He said, "It’s certainly going to be a setback" in the attempt to enduringly seal the well and clean up the Gulf, averred Allen.

The mass departure from the area is likely to delay BP's mid-August deadline for finishing a relief well that would permanently plug the leak by 15 odd days.