White House: 75 percent of oil from Gulf spill either collected or broken down by nature

White House: 75 percent of spilled Gulf oil gone

NEW ORLEANS — Government scientists say three-quarters of the oil from BP’s massive spill has been cleaned up or broken down by natural forces.

White House energy adviser Carol Browner said on morning TV talk shows Wednesday that a new assessment found that about 75 percent of the oil has either been captured, burned off, evaporated or broken down in the Gulf of Mexico.

Browner welcomed news early Wednesday from BP PLC that it has plugged the broken well with heavy mud. The oil giant called it ia milestone in ending the spill that started with an April 20 drill rig explosion off Louisiana that killed 11 workers.