英国石油公司“堵漏”失败

BP's complex "top kill" manoeuvre to plug its Gulf of Mexico oil well has failed, crushing hopes for an end to the largest oil spill in US history already in its 40th day.

英国石油公司曾试图采用颇为复杂的“灭顶法”来封堵墨西哥湾的漏油，然而，此法亦宣告失败。这个美国有史以来最大的漏油事故已经持续40天了，“灭顶法”的失败也使彻底封住漏油的希望再一次破灭。

It may be another two months before the oil giant can definitively turn off the gusher - a delay that could undermine US President Barack Obama as he faces growing criticism for a perceived slow response to the disaster.

可能仍需2个月的时间，英国石油公司才能彻底封堵漏油。而这会使美国总统奥巴马陷于更加不利的境地，因为，已有越来越多的人对美国政府感到不满，认为其对漏油事故作出的反应过慢。

"We will continue to pursue any and all responsible means of stopping this leak until the completion of the two relief wells currently being drilled," Obama said in a statement after the news, noting that the wells will take months to complete.

“灭顶法”宣告失败后，奥巴马在一份声明中称，“目前，两座减压井正处在打钻中，在建成之前，我们将会寻求各种行之有效方式来阻止漏油。”他还说，建成这两座新油井会花几个月的时间。

BP's Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles told reporters the London-based firm would now attempt to capture oil from the well after cutting the pipeline and attaching a new cap

英国石油公司首席执行官萨特尔斯告诉记者，英国石油公司伦敦分公司会尝试切断漏油管道，并放上一个防漏罩来从油井中收集漏油。

However, Suttles warned the new procedure would take at least four days and would only capture "most" of the leaking oil.

不过，萨特尔斯表示，这个新方案至少要4天才能得以实施，而且也只能收集“大部分”的漏油。

Listening Notes：
the sinking of an oil rig
desperate to spare their bottom line
a tight mechanical seal