Any updates on the oil cap?

[Javaman]

didn't they start lowering it last night?

[DCBob]

1. I have not seen any.. its a bit worrisome they have not provided anymore updates since then..

Maybe they are lowering it very very slow and its not there yet..

[sharp_stick]

2. It will take a long time

to get it down 5,000 feet and into position. I don't think we'll hear anything for awhile yet. This morning I heard that if all goes well it may start to function by Sunday.

[Warpy]

3. It's got to go down a mile in ocean currents and against a gush of oil

It should take a few days to lower it into place.

Just hope it works. That will mean 2 of 3 leaks have been plugged if it does.

[ensho]

6. that's a big hunk of concrete - won't the currents mess with it?

unless it is in a current dead zone, then the currents should make it hard to put it in the right place.

I don't know about the upper gulf but around the Keys the current/tide runs like a speeding train.

people joke that if you fall into an outgoing tide you will shortly end up in Cuba.

and the tide running under 7 mile bridge is fast and powerful.

[Warpy]

7. Much of it is welded metal

surrounding the concrete. It's big and heavy, but those currents are pretty fierce. Put it at the end of a mile of cable and it's going to be difficult to place correctly.

Just hope it works.

[SidDithers]

4. I think I read it's being lowered...

and they hope to have it operational by Sunday. I'll see if I can find the link.

Not where I originally saw it, but this link has the same info:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jiumTOLf3f7WF4W_dtlNyHallMmw

Douglas Peake, the first mate of the supply boat that brought the box to the spill site, confirmed he received a radio transmission from the nearby vessel lowering the device that said the device would be in position over the well soon.

The transmission said undersea robots were placing buoys around the main oil leak to act as markers to help line up the 40ft (12-metre) box and the box was about 4,000ft under water, with another 1,000ft to go.

Meanwhile, a separate mission was being prepared to spray water around the rig drilling a relief well to try to reduce fumes from the thick oil hampering the crew's work on deck.

A crane lowered the containment vessel which is designed to collect up to 85% of the oil spewing into the Gulf and funnel it up to a tanker. The crane will give way to underwater robots that will secure the device over the main leak at the bottom.

A steel pipe will be installed between the top of the box and tanker. If all goes well, the whole structure could be operating by Sunday.

Sid

Edit: added link and excerpt.

[Statistical]

5. The original word was that it wouldn't be emplaced until Saturday.

since it is a "one of kind" I think they are going to move it very slowly to ensure it stays on course.