国际英语新闻：BP readies "top kill" to plug oil leak in Gulf of Mexico

HOUSTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Under mounting pressure to contain the month-long oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, British oil major BP on Tuesday morning outlined its next steps to stop the undersea leak.

The first option is still the so-called 'top kill' operation where heavy drilling fluids would be injected into the well to stem the flow of oil and gas and, ultimately, kill the well, BP said in a press release.

BP Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward speaks to the media after viewing the cleanup efforts on the oil contaminated beach in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, the United States, on May 24, 2010.

Most of the equipment is on site and preparations for the "top kill" operation continue, with a view to deployment within a few days, it said.

Earlier, BP officials said they might start the procedure as early as Wednesday morning.