Bonnie Forces BP to Halt Oil Spill Plug Efforts

Tropical depression Bonnie has forced BP to temporarily halt its efforts to plug its leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico

Two rigs stopped drilling the relief wells that it is hoped will eventually plug the well permanently (although with BP one is tempted to say 'don't hold your breath') and got ready to move out of the path of the storm.

The National Hurricane Center said Bonnie was now less likely than previously thought to develop into a tropical storm .

"We think that the system no longer has a threat of becoming a tropical storm again," said Lixion Avila, at the Miami-based hurricane centre.

Ships collecting seismic and acoustic data on the well and those working the underwater robots would be the last to leave, but could stay if the sea does not become too rough.

Bonnie was downgraded as it weakened on its path across Florida. Lixion  Avila said Bonnie could fade into a broad area of low pressure on Saturday morning.

The storm is expected to make landfall between Louisiana and Florida's northwest Panhandle late on Saturday.

"If we have to evacuate the scene we're probably looking at a very limited window -- probably 48 hours," said Thad Allen, the top US spill official.

BP sealed the leaking well last week for the first time since April 20 when the rig exploded and this latest setback may delay BP's target date of mid-August for completing the relief wells that should permanently plug the leak  But at least the well will remain capped.

It is believed that the oil spill, the worst in US history, has spewed over 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico,  to see live images of the well not leaking click here - oil spill live video feed