BP CEO says expects to decide soon whether to go ahead with plugging Gulf oil gusher with mud

BP CEO yet to make call on choking Gulf oil gusher

COVINGTON, La. — BP is still running tests and will decide Wednesday morning if it will go ahead with an effort to seal the blown-out Gulf of Mexico oil well by pumping heavy mud into a massive device on top of the breach.

BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward said on NBC’s “Today” show that if he gives the green light, he expects the so-called top kill procedure to happen Wednesday.

The top kill involves pumping enough mud into the gusher to overcome the flow of the well, which has leaked millions of gallons of oil into the ocean since an April 20 rig explosion. Engineers then plan to follow it up with cement that the company hopes will permanently seal the well.